Tallahassee’s DriveTime hosted its first charity event for families living in the Ronald McDonald House. Eight employees cooked a picnic style meal, feeding about five families in need.
The Ronald McDonald House Charities was selected this year as a part of the corporation’s initiative to support a nationwide charity. DriveTime dealerships are encouraged to support the chosen charity in their town.
Areikar Young, the general manager of DriveTime, said volunteering was more beneficial to her and her employees than the families they served.
“It’s Sunday, so instead of delivering food from a restaurant, we decided to cook,” Young said. “We decided it was more intimate (to cook) and spend time here and get a feel for what Ronald McDonald provides for each family.”
The Ronald McDonald House Charities provides services, including food and shelter, for people 21 and under facing illness and their families. The charity opened its doors to Sheila Heroux who traveled from Texas to be with her son Craig while he recovers at Tallahassee Memorial Hospital.
Two weeks ago, Craig, 22, was hit by a car and suffered injuries to his left arm, fingers and leg. Heroux said he will have to undergo four to five years of physical therapy to learn to walk again.
She is a resident of the Ronald McDonald House, said she has been touched by the charity.
“I haven’t had to worry about where I was going to sleep or eat which have been a huge burden,” Heroux said.
Lydia Hernandez, sales adviser for DriveTime, heard about the Ronald McDonlad House in middle
School and said she was excited to work with the charity.
“It takes you out of yourself,” Hernandez said. “Knowing the families have a place, a refuge is really cool.”
For more information on the Ronald McDonald House Charities or to make a donation, visit http://www.rmhc.org.