A 22-member group of employees from the Edgewood Division of the Army Contracting Command -- Aberdeen Proving Ground recently took part in a "random act of kindness day" by volunteering at the Ronald McDonald House in Wilmington, Delaware.
The group formed three teams and performed various tasks to benefit the families who stay at the Ronald McDonald House. The kitchen team helped prepare snacks and meals, while the activity bag team made "goody bags" full of toys, trinkets and snacks for the children. The largest team was the yard maintenance team who spruced up the exterior landscape with flowers and mulch.
"The Ronald McDonald House staff and families were very appreciative of our contributions," said Tammy Woodard, contract specialist. "It was also a memorable experience for the ACC-APG employees and it really put a lot in perspective. No matter how bad our day is at work, it doesn't compare to the difficult times that many families face caring for a sick child and dealing with the financial hardship of long-term medical care. The house is an affordable place for families to stay in a home-like environment, while their seriously ill or injured children are treated at area hospitals."
She said the idea to volunteer at the Ronald McDonald House, or RMH, came during a brainstorming session to plan team-building activities. The group first thought about having a "volunteer day" and the consensus of the group put RMH at the top of the list. So, the ACC-APG employees donned their work clothes, gathered the supplies they collected and carpooled to Delaware, rendezvousing in front of the Ronald McDonald House. The visit began with a tour of the facility and a history of the house. Once the work was complete, the employees returned to the Aberdeen area, "emotionally drained," added Woodard.
Woodard understands first-hand the benefits of RMH, since she once benefitted from this home away from home. It was November 2010, when Woodard's identical twin boys were released after three weeks in the neonatal intensive care unit. At six weeks old the twins stopped feeding and had complex medical issues requiring hospitalization and feeding tubes.
"I was overwhelmed at the time," recalled Woodard. "I stayed at the hospital all day long and went to RMH at night for a warm shower and bed, then I would start again the next day. By 2014, my twins had recovered but throughout this time, I was grateful for the support of RMH."
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