The Weasels, a social organization with a motorcycle problem, made a special visit to the Ronald McDonald House West on Saturday. The crew roared up to the house on their bikes, bearing donation boxes inside on leather-clad shoulders. We helped them warm up with cookies and coffee in the kitchen, before they hit the road again.
They’ll be back soon, as part of the 1,000-strong parade of motorcycles that drop off presents every year at Shriners Hospital and the Ronald McDonald House. This year’s ride is scheduled for December 5. Thank you Weasels!
The Weasels salute.
Ronald McDonald House biker gals Diana Copeland and Julie Ramil.
The West House reopened for families and referrals over the weekend after a temporary two week closure for remodeling work. View images of the completed project online at our blog. We want to thank the facilities staff at OHSU, the dedicated crew of volunteers who made the project possible, and the many community organizations and businesses that contributed. Thank you!
Here are some of the latest images from the West House Remodeling Project. Work is ongoing through this week. Look at all the images from the project at our flickr page.
The East House welcomed a new friendly face last week, as Copper the Therapy Dog made his first visit to the house. With his gentle personality and calm expression, Copper quickly made friends at the house. Everyone is now looking forward to his weekly visits.
During the temporary West House closure for remodeling, Double Tree Lloyd Center is helping families by providing a free shuttle between the Ronald McDonald House East and OHSU. The shuttle makes two round trips everyday back and forth, and will continue until the West House re-opens on November 20.
The shuttle waiting to leave the East House for OHSU
On Friday, nine year old Amy and her family visited the Ronald McDonald House East with a very special delivery: 18 teddy bears in all shapes, colors, and sizes, each one made by Amy and her sister earlier that day at Build a Bear Workshop.
For her birthday this year, Amy requested donations and gift cards from family and friends instead of presents. She raised more than $250, and used the money to launch her teddy bear project, Amy’s Bears for Caring and Sharing. Each bear came with its own name and its own personality, from Twinkles the Princess to a rock star named Dylan. Inside every bear, Amy placed a round heart to show her affection for the families at the Ronald McDonald House.
Every family that stays with us finds a new teddy bear waiting on their bed when they first check in. With 1,550 family visits last year, and two beds per room, that means that Ronald McDonald House gives out more than 3,000 stuffed animals to families and their sick children every year. Anyone can donate stuffed animals to the house, just like Amy.
If you’d like to support Amy’s project, you can make contributions to an account with US Bank called Amy’s Bears for Caring and Sharing.
Watch the KATU television profile about Amy by clicking here.
Thank you to Chef Paul, his assistant Anthony, and our generous friends at Western Culinary Institute, who gave a cooking demonstration at the East House as they prepared a delicious salmon dinner with lasagna and salad for our guests on Monday night.
We want to thank all the volunteers from Nike who spent Thursday at the East House baking cookies, cleaning up the house, and working in the yard. All of your efforts help make our house a home away from home!
