A Wallaceburg woman has launched a toy drive in support of the Ronald McDonald House of Southwestern Ontario.
DeeJay Laprise told the Sydenham Current she wanted to teach her daughters, Kassie, 5, and Kayleigh, 2, how to give back.
“I personally have never used the Ronald McDonald House but some of my friends and family have,” she said.
“So I want to try to give back. And I am trying to teach our girls that we should help others… and what a better place to show them than the Ronald McDonald House.”
Laprise is accepting donations until December 9, before her and her family head to London on Saturday to make the donation at the house.
“We will take toys, gift cards… they really like gift cards for the teens/tweens or gift cards for gas, restaurants or groceries,” she said.
“Donations to try to help the families have a Merry Christmas.”
The toys or donations can be dropped off at the Gamble Hub International office located at 635 James Street in Wallaceburg, or at their Chatham Gamble Hub International office at 194 Wellington Street W. Chatham, or their Sarnia Gamble Hub International office, located at 265 Exmouth in Sarnia.
Laprise said donations can also be dropped off at the Black Goose Grill and Wallaceburg’s Home Hardware.
So far over $400 in gift cards, about $250 in toys and about $250 in cheques made out to the Ronald McDonald House, so they can use the money where they need, Laprise said.
Last year alone, 88 families from the Chatham-Kent area utilized the Ronald McDonald House, Laprise added.
The Ronald McDonald House in London is a place where out-of-town families with seriously ill children can stay for as long as they need, right beside the Children’s Hospital, London Health Sciences Centre.
By providing things like a private room and bath, homemade dinners, laundry facilities, and all the other comforts of home for just $10 a night, they are able to help bring a bit of “normal” to families with sick kids while lifting some of the financial burdens weighing on parents.
For more details visit: http://www.rmhc-swo.ca/
– Photo credit: Ronald McDonald House Charities Southwestern Ontario, Facebook
