Heart Beats, Jan/Feb 2024

Heart

BEATS

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2024

Share A Heart The 31st Anniversary of our Share a Heart Campaign kicked off Wednesday, January 24! 70 McDonald’s restaurants all across the Ozarks are participating in selling hearts throughout the campaign until February 29.

We encourage you to visit your favorite McDonald’s and “Share a Heart” to show hope, love, and encouragement for our families by adopting a $1, $5, or $20 heart.

Hearts will also be available at both Springfield Ronald McDonald Houses.

Courtesy of Great Southern Bank, four $250 MasterCard Gift Cards will be awarded to randomly selected RMHC supporters who “share their heart” on social media by posting selfies using #forRMHCOzarks.

Don’t miss out on your chance to win! Details are on the back of each PRESENTING SPONSOR

heart. (RMHC, McDonald’s, and Great Southern Bank employees are not eligible to win.)

The 2024 Share a Heart Campaign is presented by McDonald’s of the Ozarks and continues to thrive with the support from Leadership Sponsor, Great Southern Bank, Media Sponsor, KY3, and Supporting Sponsors, Mid-Am Metal Forming and ColorGraphic Printing.

We’d like to give a BIG thank you to volunteer Brenda Podewitz and Mercy House Associate Program Manager, Breanna Wilson for their role in communicating with and securing all the Share a Heart families for our 2024 Family Profiles.

The Family Profiles are a glimpse into the stories of Ronald McDonald House families and their journey as they navigated the uncertainties,

LEADERSHIP SPONSORS

fear, joy and everything in between that accompanied their child’s time in the hospital. We are so grateful to every family who shared their story with us.

Visit ShareAHeart.org to view this year’s Family Profiles and see where our families come from on our Share a Heart Map.

SUPPORTING SPONSORS

COLORGRAPHIC PRINTING incorporated

McTJ Night Join us for “McTJ Night” at McDonald’s in Marshfield on Monday, February 12 from 3:00pm-8:00pm. Twenty percent of all sales that evening will go towards Share a Heart Champion TJ Slocum’s personal goal of $10,000! Last year, TJ was able to raise an amazing $12,285. TJ looks forward to meeting each of you while supporting our Ronald McDonald House programs.

From The

Staff Happy Anniversary 1 Year Makayla Martin Alexandra Ross Crystal Schneider Ivy Starks Regina Marshall

Heart of the House House Near Cox South Current Active Volunteers:

Briana Jenkins Regina Marshall Larry Meinsen Donna Patterson Brenda Podewitz Beka Rasor Becky Reser

Terri Carr Olivia Cason Barry Chole Sandy Davis Blake Dowdy Amy Grubaugh Carol Harris

Hailey Rehkop Crystal Schneider Randy Slocum Grace Stagner Kim Stagner Ivy Starks Gail Sours

Karen Taylor Paul Walley Kellie Wirtz Abigail Weitzel Joanna Weitzel Scott Weitzel Travis Weitzel

Welcome New Volunteer to the House near Cox South, Olivia Cason!

House At Mercy Kids Current Active Volunteers:

2 Years Jennifer Grooms Sarah Han

Sandy Emberton Ann Griesemer Sarah Han

3 Years Katie Serangeli

Welcome New Volunteers to the House at Mercy Kids, Chiquita Hendrick and Levi Mann!

4 Years Gail Sours 5 Years Brenda Podewitz 17 Years Mindy Munoz 20 Years Kim Booth 22 Years Kim Stagner

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Heart Beats is published monthly or bi-monthly for volunteers of Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Ozarks and The Tooth Truck, Inc. ©2024 RMHC The following trademarks used herein are owned by McDonald’s Corporation and its affiliates and are used under license: Ronald McDonald House Charities, Ronald McDonald House Charities logo, Ronald McDonald House, Ronald McDonald Care Mobile, RMHC, Keeping Families Close.

The Tooth Truck name and logo are owned by The Tooth Truck, Inc.

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Chiquita Hendrick Stori Johnson Zachary McCubbins

Sondra Rader Alexandra Ross Sheridan Sellers

Jessica Steward Molly Stood Tori Tomlin

Family Dinner Spotlight Mercy Epic Mission Control Mercy Epic Mission Control has been serving meals since late 2022. They all work remotely and only get together occasionally so providing dinner for the House is a great opportunity for the team to get together. Here’s what Jeanne Heasley had to say about their time volunteering: What does your team do at Mercy?

We are Mercy, MTS, Clinic Business Solution Analyst that configure and support the Electronic Medical Record,

Epic. We represent many Epic applications, so we dub ourselves, “Mission Control.”

When did you start providing meals at the Ronald McDonald House?

We started providing meals in October of 2022 and then we try to provide a meal and serve every quarter.

How did you get involved with the Meals from the Heart Program?

Mercy encourages us to serve in our communities and this is the organization that spoke to me. I spent time in a Ronald McDonald House in Chicago years ago when my son was getting care at the Children’s Hospital. You are

RMHC Staff

helping people not to have to worry about getting a meal at a very stressful time in their lives.

What is your favorite thing about participating in the Meals from the Heart Program?

Our favorite thing is meeting the families. Hearing their story and then at times, joining them in prayer.

What would you say to anyone considering volunteering for the Meals from the Heart Program?

We highly recommend serving a meal at the Ronald McDonald House because you will meet families, hear their stories, and gain so much from the experience.

President & CEO Bonnie Keller

RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE NEAR COX SOUTH

RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE AT MERCY KIDS

Vice President Debbie Kinser

Program Manager Danielle Harp

Program Manager Justin Wilson

Tooth Truck Program Director Mindy Muñoz

Family Care Managers Austin Gormley Jennifer Grooms Danielle Henson Makayla Martin-Wise Megan Mashburn Jessica Steward

Associate Program Manager Breanna Wilson

Director of Philanthropy Ashley French Development Assistant Kim Booth Development Coordinator Katie Serangeli

Family Care Managers Samantha Ball Skylar Ball Julie Holt Savannah Keller Makayla Martin-Wise Jack Osborn

Birthdays Dec 1 Molly Stood Dec 3 Paul Walley Dec 6 Sandy Emberton Dec 9 Grace Stagner Larry Meinsen Dec 16 Donna Patterson

Dinner Group Recipe

Enchiladas Sondra Rader, center, is a weekly volunteer that has been

volunteering at the House at Mercy Kids. She brought her family over the holidays to make enchiladas, per a special request. This recipe is her mom’s personal enchilada recipe:

INGREDIENTS:

2 lbs. ground beef 2- 19 ounce cans red enchilada sauce 2- 4.5 ounce cans chopped green chilis 10- soft 10 inch flour tortillas 6 cups shredded cheddar cheese

DIRECTIONS:

1. Heat oven to 375 degrees & spray 9x13 baking dish with cooking spray 2. Cook ground beef, drain grease 3. Stir 1 ½ cups enchilada sauce and 2 cans chopped green chilis into ground beef 4. Spread ½ cup enchilada sauce in bottom of dish 5. Spread ¾ cup of beef down center of tortilla, sprinkle with cheese, roll.

6. Place in dish, seam side down 7. Top with remaining sauce and cheese 8. Bake 25-30 minutes

WINGS Students Ann Vincel & Lee Ann Neil Teresa McGeehan & Angie Patrick Oak Grove Assembly of God Laura Hoffman Beckham Family Conner Family Giddens Family Laura Winstead & Alumni House FCMs Sulivan Family Barron Family Cintas First Aid

Dec 26th Kellie Wirtz January 10 Katie Serangeli January 15 Kim Stagner January 17 Brenda Podewitz January 25 Kim Booth February 11 Scott Weitzel

February 19 Ann Griesemer

RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE NEAR COX SOUTH Mayor McCheese Parkcrest Baptist Church Great Southern- Loan Ops Team Janet Hamilton Family Cox Peds Pyatt Dental Emmaus Church Union Hill Church of Christ Rotaract Boys & Girls Club of Springfield Mt. Pleasant Southern Baptist Taneycomo Terrace

December 21 Breanna Wilson Joanna Weitzel

February 14 Karen Taylor

Dinner Groups!

MSU Pre-PA Society Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Friends of Blue Silo Melissa Dallas Ladies Group W/ Convoy of Hope Delta Sigma Pi Cox Health Information Technology Oak Grove Assembly of God US Public Health Service Orchard Crest Baptist Church Fair Grove National Honor Society The Girlfriends

December 26 Sheridan Sellers

Martin Family Blake Family Union Hill Church of Christ Fletcher Family Pyatt Dental Doherty Family

February 20 Crystal Schnieder February 21 Jennifer Grooms

OPEN DINNER DATES:

February: 10, 11, 14, 18, 20, 22, 23, 24, 25, 27 March: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 9, 10, 11, 13, 15, 18, 19, 23, 24, 26, 28, 29, 30, 31

RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE AT MERCY KIDS SBU Nursing Ziggies Cafe MSU Pre-Med Society Emily & Quinn at College of the Ozarks Mercy Pre-Reg Mercy 7A Oncology Bricktown Brewery Pasta Express Covey Family Jordan Heinz State Farm Little Caesars Arvest Bank Lois & Jessica

Kristal Hicks Hessington Family/Gracies Bridal Lois Hirschler’s’ Family Ash Grove United Methodist Presbyterian Church Mercy Epic Mission Control LR Pomcats Bambinos Keep Supply Drury Pi Beta Phi Houilhans Mercy Surgery Leaders Amazon WINS Ziggies Cafe

L&D Unit Council Mercy 5B Mercy Cancer Resource Center Mid Mo Bank Mercy Pre-Reg Harrison Family Jackie Roberts Fair Grove National Honor Society Brad Bradshaw Mercy Core Lab Fremont OBGYN Barnes Family Ball Family Mary Carlson & Family

Mercy Food Service Radar Family Bambinos Giddens Family Shane Cowger Family Werdenhousen Family

OPEN DINNER DATES:

February 9, 11, 14, 16, 17, 18, 21, 23, 24 March: 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 10, 13, 15, 16, 21, 23, 24, 26, 28, 29, 30, 31

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Around the Houses HOUSE

WISH LIST Food Items

Shelf stable milk K-Cups Individual coffee creamer Individually wrapped snacks Canned soda Bottled water

Gift Cards Gas cards Walmart Amazon Target

Family Items

Beauty gift sets for women Body wash sets for men Adult and child activity books Travel coffee mugs Deodorant Fleece throw blankets Small gifts for children Gifts for teens

Miscellaneous Items

White Queen fitted sheets White matching bath towels Bakeware Cookie sheets Set of pots and pans Daily planners Lip balm Small bottles of lotion Crayons Blank note cards Notebooks Board games Rubik’s cubes and mind puzzles Playing cards Travel-size hand sanitizer Travel manicure sets Individual packs of tissues On-the-go drink mixes Small stuffed animals Sweatpants (all sizes) Boys, Girls, Mens and Womens Underwear (new and unopened) – all sizes

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Sprout Business Group

Spreads Holiday Cheer to RMHC Families Imagine having a seriously ill child in the hospital over Christmas. For families at the Ronald McDonald House near Cox South and the House at Mercy Kids in Springfield, this was their reality. But thanks to the Sprout Business Group, their holiday sparkled with joy.

For the seventh year running, Sprout filled 24 gift bags with warmth, fun, and practical comforts. Each bag contained cozy blankets to provide comfort and warmth during a difficult time, playful card games to offer a welcome distraction from the stress of being in the hospital, soothing lotion, a welcome $25 gift card to provide muchneeded financial support, a life-saving battery bank to ensure that families can stay connected with loved ones during their stay, and a touch of love for moms with customized headbands.

These thoughtful gifts were provided to families on Christmas morning, bringing smiles, laughter and most importantly,

a reminder they’re not alone. Sprout’s generosity has turned a difficult time into a moment of hope and connection, proving that even in a hospital, the holiday spirit can shine brightly.

The Sprout Business Group is a local organization committed to giving back to the community. Their annual gift drive is just one of the ways they show their support for families in need. Thank you to the Sprout Business Group for their commitment to making the holidays brighter for the families staying at our Ronald McDonald Houses.

Partnership with Convoy of Hope In late 2023, Convoy of Hope organized the Springfield Community Care Partner Luncheon with over 60 guests and partners in attendance. During the first hour, attendees shared insights about their respective community organizations and how Convoy of Hope has helped each program.

The event also featured a guided tour of the World Headquarters and warehouse, providing a glimpse into the organization’s operations. Convoy of Hope has recently extended its support to RMHC by providing paper products, hygiene items and toys for kids. We are beyond grateful to have such a wonderful partner in our community and are excited to see the positive impact of our partnership in the future.

Monthly Statistics Oct - Dec 2023

House Near Cox South STATS Families Served...............71 Nights.................................. 724

Happy Wheels Wish List

Small bottles of lotion Mini hand sanitizers Activity books (crossword puzzles, Sudoku, word finder) Small packs of crayons for the activity books Travel manicure sets

Chapstick Individual packs of Kleenex Individually packaged snacks (Goldfish, granola bars, Teddy Grahams, gum, mints, Lifesavers, etc.)

12-ounce water bottles

A Tradition Continues with Jane Paul For 14 years, Jane Paul has been bringing the magic of Christmas to the Ronald McDonald House at Mercy Kids. With the help of her granddaughters, she transformed the House into a winter wonderland, spreading joy and cheer to families who are staying here while their child is receiving medical treatment. Jane’s dedication and creativity have made her a cherished member of the RMHC family. Her heartwarming tradition is a reminder of the power of kindness and the joy of giving back during the holidays. Thank you, Jane, for making the holiday season at RMHC extra special!

Families from Missouri.................................51 Families from Other States......................20 Year to Date.....................271 Program to Date.....11,652

House At Mercy Kids STATS Families Served............. 66 Nights...................................717 Families from Missouri................................59 Families from Other States.........................7 Year to Date.................... 325 Program to Date......4,110

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Staff Stuff Gold Key Project ReeceNichols has wrapped up another amazing year of the Gold Key Project and recently stopped by the Ronald McDonald House near Cox South to present the proceeds! Over seven months, participating agents contributed $100 for every home sold to Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Ozarks. In 2023, these outstanding agents donated $16,900. We are so thankful for their continued support of our mission and organization!

Mission Moment The Chambers Family At 40 weeks and two days, Finnley Chambers was born unresponsive with the umbilical cord tangled around her body. The traumatic birth was completely unexpected for her mother, Elizabeth. She had come to Mercy Hospital for her planned labor induction and tried to give birth naturally. When Finnley’s and her stats dropped, Elizabeth had to have an emergency C-section.

Finnley was admitted to the NICU and was cooled for 72 hours. The cooling process helped to prevent brain damage from being without oxygen for so long because of the umbilical cord. When Finnley was warmed back up, they discovered she developed hypercalcemia, a condition where her calcium levels are too high.

Elizabeth said, “The hypercalcemia caused a lot of knots and swelling on her back, so she wasn’t able to be held a lot during that time. Fortunately, she improved after starting treatments.” Finnley was on a ventilator for two weeks and had some challenges but was able to be discharged after four weeks in the NICU. Being able to stay at the House while Finnley recovered in the NICU was a “life saver” for Elizabeth, especially while she was healing from her C-section. She said, “I wasn’t able to go home at all for the first two weeks because Finnley was so critical. I was also very, very sick afterwards.”

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Elizabeth had an infection in her C-section wound that turned into a kidney infection. “Even sitting was uncomfortable. Driving back and

forth from home to Mercy Hospital wouldn’t have been feasible. The pullout couch at the House at Mercy Kids helped ease discomfort when I was getting over the infection.”

After a few weeks, Elizabeth was feeling significantly better. She was able to go to the NICU any time she wanted and spent most of her days with Finnley. She said, “It was great not having to worry about the basic things, like finding dinner every night. Everything was wonderful.”

Elizabeth’s story is a testament to the strength of a mother’s love and the power of the Ronald McDonald House. When her daughter, Finnley, was born and required intensive care, Elizabeth was faced with a daunting challenge. Not only did she have to cope with the emotional roller coaster of seeing her newborn in the NICU, but she also had to recover from her own C-section and deal with a serious infection.

The Ronald McDonald House provided Elizabeth with a much-needed haven during this difficult time. It allowed her to stay close to Finnley without having to worry about the logistics of traveling back and forth from the hospital. The House provided her with a comfortable place to sleep, meals and support from other families going through similar experiences.

We hope that Elizabeth and Finnley continue to do well and that they have a long and happy life together!

House Volunteer Spotlight Tori Tomlin Tori Tomlin has been volunteering at the House at Mercy Kids since June of 2023. At the time, Tori was working for Mercy Hospital as a Patient Care Tech. She has since transferred to be an Advanced Medical Assistant at Mercy Dermatology. Tori has consistently elevated the level of service provided at the House through each of her volunteer shifts. She has been a reliable asset to the team, and we are always thankful when she shows up at our door!

What is your favorite thing to do in the House?

My favorite thing to do in the House is cleaning out and organizing the fridge. It gives me satisfaction to make it less cluttered!

What do you enjoy in your free time?

In my free time I love to spend time with my dog or FaceTime my family.

How did you learn about the Ronald McDonald House?

I learned about the Ronald McDonald House from my employment at Mercy and the company-wide emails.

What do you enjoy most about volunteering with our organization?

I enjoy volunteering with RMHC because I feel like I am making a difference in many families lives, despite not being actively part of the care team.

What is a fun fact few people would know about you?

Typically, I can look down at the ground during springtime and find several 4 leaf clovers!

Happy Wheels Volunteers Needed The Ronald McDonald House near Cox South is looking for two volunteers to carry out our Happy Wheels Program every week. Our Happy Wheels Program brings “special deliveries” of fun activities and basic necessities to the families and children in our partnering units at Cox South Hospital, reaching families who may need our services If you or someone you know is interested in carrying out this incredible program, please reach out to Danielle Harp at danielle. harp@rmhcozarks.org / 417-875-3501.

Kickapoo Toy Drive The incredible students from Kickapoo’s Special Education department organized a heartwarming toy drive at their school. Through their determination and creativity, they collected 8 huge boxes of toys! Four of those boxes, filled with games, dolls, plush friends, and so much more were delivered to the Ronald McDonald House. This generous donation, valued at $1,400, made a huge impact on the Christmas spirit here at the House. These toys made a real difference in the lives of families spending Christmas at the House.

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Heart of the Truck Patch Clay McKenna Courtney Emily Dunn Jennifer Hardy Kaydance Knifong Susan Lemmon Clare Scheier Kenady Solmon Joanna Stalzer

Birthdays January 15 Joanna Stalzer January 29 Dr. Lisa Castleman February 14 Dr. Caryl Earp February 16 Amanda Honor February 22 Dr. Alison Lamphear

Tooth Talk

The Healthy Smiles Academy is Back!

by Ashton Hartweg

After an extensive break in the program, the Healthy Smiles Academy (HSA) has officially relaunched back into several schools! If you’re unfamiliar with the program, the Healthy Smiles Academy (HSA) is an extension of the Tooth Truck and was originally launched in one school in 2011. This in-school tooth-brushing program went on to grow throughout the Springfield Public School district and beyond, serving over 12,000

children and youth in 155 classrooms before its suspension in 2020 due to COVID-19. HSA had proven to be beneficial and successful within the classrooms participating, teaching children of all ages to be confident and knowledgeable of caring for their own oral hygiene.

The relaunch of the HSA program is already proving successful amongst its current 565 participants, and I would like to share one special story. Trace is a student at Fulbright Early Childhood Center and is now a member of the Healthy Smiles Academy.

When HSA first started in his classroom in early October, Trace’s special needs and sensory issues made it difficult for him to brush his teeth. With extra support from the HSA team, volunteers, and teachers, Trace slowly allowed us to brush a few teeth at a time.

After a month of patience Continues on page 9

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Trace is now independently brushing his teeth each day in the classroom setting!

Continued from page 8

and encouragement, Trace is now successfully brushing all of his teeth without hesitation. Not only is Trace taking part in maintaining good oral hygiene, but he’s becoming more confident and learning new skills he can apply in other areas of his life.

It’s no secret the Healthy Smiles Academy has impacted so many children over the years, giving them

the tools and knowledge to have a cavity-free smile. HSA’s goal for the remainder of the academic year is to keep expanding into more Pre-K, Kindergarten, and Special Education classrooms, all while working with educators to ensure that the program is a positive addition to an already busy classroom. We look forward to watching HSA continue to grow, just as it did many years ago!

Ronald McDonald Care Mobile of the Ozarks December 2023 Children Treated:.............. 158 Dental Appointments Provided: ...............................254 Year to Date Dental Appointments: ..............2,582 Program to Date Dental Appointments: ............67,387 Program to Date Value of Treatment: .......$23.6 million

STAFF

Volunteers play a big role in establishing a brushing routine during the first few days of introduction into a classroom.

Tooth Truck Wish List

Students listen to a special story about DecayAway Dragon to help teach why it is important to brush your teeth each day.

Action figures Matchbox cars Hair accessories (clips, headbands) Chapstick Clorox Wipes Handheld games

Jewelry (necklaces, bracelets) DVDs for older children Outdoor toys (bubbles, sidewalk chalk, Frisbees, sports balls) Walmart gift cards Beanie Babies

Congratulations to Dental Assistant Amanda Honor and family on their newest addition! Baby Khylen arrived on November 21st and is already adored by his four siblings.

PRESIDENT & CEO Bonnie Keller PROGRAM DIRECTORRONALD MCDONALD CARE MOBILE Mindy Muñoz HEALTHY SMILES ACADEMY PROGRAM MANAGER Ashton Hartweg GENERAL DENTIST Dr. Sarah Cimino COMMUNITY DENTISTS Dr. Aaron Dannegger Dr. Brett Durbin Dr. Caryl Earp Dr. Misty Shelton DENTAL ASSISTANTS Megan Sanders Kassidy Tuttle PART-TIME DENTAL ASSISTANT Amanda Honor OFFICE COORDINATOR Joscelyn Flores

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Heart Beats

949 E. Primrose Street Springfield, Missouri 65807-5257

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Heart the Houses Our annual “Heart the Houses” campaign continues! This special annual giving program encourages the community to Adopt a Room at one (or both) of our Ronald McDonald Houses for a month, quarter or year. You can view our printed materials for Heart the Houses at https://issuu.com/rmhcozarks/docs/rmhc_heartthehouses_wilson2023_email

The Wilson Family shares so many ways your efforts in supporting the Houses can have a HUGE impact.

Heart the Houses contributors are providing our families with a refuge, a place where they can shed their armor and express their fear and sadness. We strive for our Houses to be a source of strength and love while our families face the unimaginable. We encourage friends of RMHC to consider Adopting a Room this year!