Heart
BEATS
SEPTEMBER 2018
Chiefs Fans Rally to Kick Off Red Friday!
KC Wolf from the Kansas City Chiefs visited the Ronald McDonald House at Mercy Kids to kick off Red Friday! There were big smiles all around and a welcome break for our families.
Amanda Kosemund and her husband, Brad of West Plains have found a “home-away-from-home” at the Ronald McDonald House since their son, Ethan, was admitted to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit to remove a brain tumor. Since his hospitalization on July 30, Ethan’s had 3 surgeries and celebrated his first birthday! His mother told us, “If we didn’t have this place, we wouldn’t have anything… it’s like a family here.”
SAVE THE DATE: FRI. NOV. 16
Holiday Homes Tour, Market & Tea The Diamond Room, 2340 W. Grand 10:00am – 8:00pm
In addition to being a rallying point for Chiefs fans, Red Friday is a chance for the community to make a difference in the lives of local children and families facing a medical crisis by donating $5 each for limited-edition “Chiefs Kingdom” flags at 54 McDonald’s locations in Springfield and the Ozarks to benefit our two Ronald McDonald Houses in Springfield. A special thank you to our media partners who showed their support by participating in our promotion and social media countdown to the event, and especially to our local McDonald’s Restaurants for working sideby-side with us to help keep families together and close to the care and resources they need.
The 23rd Annual Cup O’Cheer, presented by BKD Wealth Advisors, will showcase five of the area’s most beautiful homes adorned with holiday decor. The event will also feature a market and Holiday Tea at Springfield’s Diamond Room including an exclusive shopping experience, silent auction, and “high tea” and desserts from Simply Delicious. The first 1,000 tickets each come with a china teacup and saucer designed especially for the event by the team
at BridgeBlue Sourcing Partners and Obelisk Home. Tickets go on sale October 3rd for $35 each. Tickets on the day of the event are $40 each, if available. We’d love for you to join the hundreds of volunteers who make Cup O’Cheer possible! If you’re interested in volunteering, contact Melanie Ward at 417-875-3501 or at melanie.ward@ RMHCozarks.org.
From The
Staff Happy
Anniversary 1 YEAR Madison Gibson, House near Cox South Savanna Roberts, House near Cox South Violet Turner, House near Cox South James Winstead, House near Cox South Hannah Le, House at Mercy Kids
15 YEARS Becky Gillham, House Near Cox South
Heart of the House House Near Cox South Ann Adams Tyler Austin Zach Bailey Elizabeth Bottorff Sheila Boswell Chloe Bowers Nadean Burnett Ashton Canfield Dave Canfield Philip Canfield Jillian Carlile John Carr Terri Carr Larry Chainey Nancy Clark Tyler Cockrum Sonya Connolly Caroline D’Andrea Heather Cottle-Dillon Shannon Deakins Kathy Dennis Lynelle Dock Cheryl Douglas Blake Dowdy Judy Duncan Tessa Eldridge Wendy Elmer Brenda Ferris Clydene Freeman
Amanda Fronzaglia Calan Froula Madison Gibson Becky Gillham Sharon Gillham Lane Gott Shawn Gott Ashley Grady Amanda Greene Dottie Greene Garth Greene Huck Greene Parker Greene Amy Grubaugh Dorothy Harlan Darren Harrelson Laura Harrelson Mackenzie Harrelson Cindy Harris Cliff HIll Karen Hill Gracie Holt Lisa James Briana Jenkins Derek Johns Clayton Keller Levi Kemp Randi Kerr Trot Kinser
True Kinser Becky Lang Shawn Lowery Adrienne McCoy Eileen Meinsen Larry Meinsen Mackenzie Meyers Madison Mickan Kelsie Mitchell Sandy Morris Nolan Musick Jordan Myers Samantha Olive Asha Parvathaneni Karla Peck LeRoy Peck Amanda Penkalski Julie Prod Kay Prost Jessica Rawlings Beka Razor Rebecca Reser Cliff Ricketts Jan Ricketts Savanna Roberts Joe Roushdi Timothy Schmelz Anne Schubert Debbie Slocum
House At Mercy Kids Stephanie Bube Mary Carlson Jennie Crabbe Sean Copeland Kristin Custer Sandy Emberton Mason Gaspard Terry Greer Ann Griesemer Brenda Havens
Kaley Hawkinson Jenni Jacka Lillian Jacka Leah Jackson Danielle Kelly Jenna Kinyon Ami Le Hannah Le Brady Marshall Becky Mathis
Kassie Medina Madison Mickan Jianna Mills Kiera Mills Krista Mills Rebekah Mitts Marel Morris Alexis Mundell Tracie Nicholson Kate Okland
Randy Slocum T.J. Slocum Alyssa Smith Mary Smith Richard Sowell Grace Stagner Kim Stagner Hannah Stash Madeleine Sullivan Kaden Sumter Brandon Taylor Karen Taylor Kelsey Taylor Kristina Taylor Rich Taylor Aly Thomas Anna Trenkamp Violet Turner Ava Uzzell Sondra Uzzell Tristen Uzzell Garret Volner Abigail Weitzel Lucy Weitzel Joanna Weitzel Scott Weitzel Travis Weitzel James Winstead Meghan Zengel
Jamie Phariss Sarah Phillips Keely Richter Megan Siebert Kate Steingraber Madeline Urhahn
Welcome, New Volunteers To Houses
We are thrilled to welcome the following volunteers to our Ronald McDonald Houses: Elizabeth Bottorff, Tyler Cockrum , Sonya Connolly, Caroline D’Andrea, Tessa Eldridge, Brenda Ferris , Samantha Olive, Amanda Penkalski and Richard Sowell.
RMHC Staff Heart Beats is published monthly or bi-monthly for volunteers of Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Ozarks and The Tooth Truck, Inc. ©2018 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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President & CEO Bonnie Keller Tooth Truck Program Director Mindy Muñoz Project Manager Amber Price Assistant to the President Debbie Kinser Development Assistant Kim Booth Administrative Assistant Debbi Gafner
RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE NEAR COX SOUTH House Program Manager Laura Winstead Associate Program Manager Melanie Ward Assistant House Managers Karis Agnew Jacinda Canfield Emma Chadwell Savannah Keller Rebekkah Wall Sara Wilken
RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE AT MERCY KIDS House Program Manager Ashley Burton Program Assistant Heather Jeude Assistant House Managers Danielle Exner Sydney Helms Kennedy Keller Savannah Keller Hannah Major Jack Osborn Lacey Wildschuetz
Family Dinner
Birthdays September 1 Debbie Kinser Zahid Rehman September 2 Ashley Burton
Spotlight
September 11 Becky Lang
The Wilson Family
September 12 Ava Uzzell
The Wilson Family stayed at the Mercy House in May of 2014 after the birth of their daughter. Shortly after in 2015, they started serving dinners at the Mercy House to help other families going through similar situations they were once in. Currently, the Wilson Family serves dinner on the third Thursday of every month. Let’s learn a little bit more about them …
September 15 Melanie Ward
When did you start providing meals at the Ronald McDonald House? It’s been awhile. I want to say since January of 2015. How did you get involved with the Family Dinner Program? We didn’t know about the Ronald McDonald House until we needed it. We stayed here when our daughter was born in May 2014.
September 20 Kay Prost September 21 David Taylor Terry Greer
What is your favorite thing about participating in the Family Dinner Program? Helping other people who are in similar circumstances that we have been in. We know how important it really is to have a nice, warm meal every night instead of just grabbing a pop tart or something easy on the go. What would you say to anyone considering volunteering for the Family Dinner Program? Do it! It’s easy! It really is very important to all of the families who are staying here!
September 22 Sandy Morris September 23 Dana Barbo September 24 Anne Schubert September 27 Jud Poppen September 27 Lisa James September 30 Elizabeth Botorff
Dinner Groups RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE NEAR COX SOUTH August Meal Groups Anna Trenkamp and Friends Bambino’s Cassidy United Methodist Church Cerner Si3 CNH Industrial Rehman Cox South Endoscopy Unit Cox South Patient Registration First United Methodist Church in Mt. Vernon
Fordland Church of Christ Fremont Elementary Glendale Christian Church Jack Henry and Associates Jillian Carlile and Friends Just Friends Kerr Family Knights of Columbus Lakeland Behavioral Health System Little Caesar’s Oak Grove Assembly of God
Rasey Family Second Baptist Strouse-Rasey Family The Girlfriends The Good Family The Knights Templar The Venues Small Group This is Us: Wesley United Methodist Small Group Union Hill Church of Christ Unity of Springfield
September Open Dinner Dates: 19th, 25th, 30th October Open Dinner Dates: 1st, 2nd, 4th, 7th, 10th, 13th, 17th, 18th, 21st, 24th, 30th, 31st
RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE AT MERCY KIDS August Meal Groups Arvest Bank Ash Grove UM Presbyterian Battlefield UMC Billingsley Family Bordoff Family Calhoun Family East Sunshine Church of Christ First United Methodist Church
GBS Gecko Hospitality Helms Family Hillcrest Presbyterian Church Home Parental Services Knit Chicks Lois & Jessica Louise Morgan Mercy Clinic Finance Mercy Insurance Team Mizzou Med
Mychelle & Jen Ozarks Jeep Thing Stone Family The Goldens Turning Point Church Union Hill Church of Christ Youth Vanessa Kelly Wellington Hills Friends Wilson Family
September Open Dinner Dates: 28th, 29th October Open Dinner Dates:6th, 26th, 27th, 31st
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Wish List
Around the Houses
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
House at Mercy Kids
HE Laundry detergent Swiffer liquid Coffee filters Coffee & tea Magic Erasers Labels for food Drink mixes Hygiene products Gallon-size Ziploc bags Laundry baskets Aluminum foil Travel-Size Toothpaste Fabric Softener
House near Cox South
8-gallon trash bags Individually wrapped breakfast items White queen deep pocket sheets (fitted and flat) White standard-size pillowcases White bath & hand towels White wash cloths Detergent Stamps 8 1/2 x 11 Paper K-cups Large Tupperware containers White Bath Mats
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We have a special addition to the Ronald McDonald House Near Cox, Lucy McDonald was born on August 8th, weighing half an ounce and three quarters of an inch long. Lucy is hot pink, and is a really fast swimmer. She was named by 4-year-old, Adalyn Connolly, a guest of the House. Lucy lives in a pineapple in the aquarium with her friend Mer-cat. Drop by and welcome Lucy to the House!
Mission Moment The Rust family stayed at the Ronald McDonald House near Cox for 17 days last fall while Oliver was in the NICU. It warms our hearts when past families look at our Wish List to see the needs of the House, and then donate items to help our current families. It’s such a joy and privilege to see families return with their healthy and happy babies!
Volunteer Spotlight Tim Schmelz What is your favorite thing to do (or a couple of things) at the house? If there are any families around, I really enjoy getting a chance to say hi to them & talking to them a bit. I also like helping at the outside events that the House is involved in. What do you enjoy in your free time? I just moved down here in March from Minnesota and I haven’t had a lot of free time yet. I hope to get out and explore the area more once I have more time to. Extracurricular activities? Right now, mostly just working on a house that I bought. I hope to do more “fun” things when the dust settles. Do you volunteer anywhere else in the Springfield community? If yes, where? I do some other volunteering at Cox, Mercy, Boys & Girls Club and I also volunteer with Make-A-Wish Missouri. I enjoy helping people, and my passion is helping kids that are dealing with critical illnesses.
How did you learn about the Ronald House? When I was looking at moving down here I searched to see if Springfield had a RMH. I have wanted to volunteer at one, and I was happy to see Springfield not only had one, but two Houses. What do you enjoy most about volunteering with our organization? I really enjoy giving Laura & Melanie grief. In all seriousness, I really like the atmosphere at the House. Everyone is really friendly and appreciative, and I enjoy coming to the House every week. Other comments? Sometimes the idea of “volunteering” somewhere can seem intimidating. I recommend to not let that stop anyone. Try it and go from there!
Ronald McDonald Houses of the Ozarks House Near Cox South STATS August 2018 Families Served..............58 Nights.................................. 343 Families from Missouri................................49 Families from other states...........................9 Year to date.................... 252 Program to date....10,269
House At Mercy Kids STATS
Thank You, Volunteers 29th Annual Price Cutter Charity Championship Presented by Dr Pepper
July 26-29, 2018
Thank you to all the volunteers who contributed their time on behalf of our Ronald McDonald Houses to the Price Cutter Charity Championship. We are proud to be one of nearly 50 local charities that benefit from this Web.com Tour event
each year. We couldn’t have done it without you! Ann Adams Susan Carter Brenda Farris Shawn Gott Friends of Shawn Gott: Angelo & Jeff Derek Johns Clayton Keller
Trot Kinser Becky Lang Rebekah Mitts Kate Okland Asha Parvathaneni Vickie Phang Tim Schmelz Randy Slocum Anna Trenkamp Debbie Williams Ryan Winstead
August 2018 Families Served..............56 Nights................................. 306 Families from Missouri................................44 Families from other states.........................12 Year to date................... 260 Program to date......2,633
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Heart Tooth Talk of the Truck Megan Blake Tori Bridwell Stephanie Daniels Luke Ellickson Melinda Fielder Olivia Horton Susan Lemmon Connie McCarter Melinda Thurman John Velo Chloe Williams
Healthy Smiles Academy By Tamra Thomas
It has been a busy few months for the Healthy Smiles Academy! This summer, we grew the program in several different types of programs, including the Boys and Girls Clubs, Springfield Public School’s EXPLORE program, the Salvation Army, and high-needs daycare facilities. The absolute best part of this job is working with the children participating in daily brushing. We read a book to them about our unofficial mascot, DecayAway Dragon, demonstrating how to brush using our dragon brushing model and individually assist them with brushing. As the students brush, one can see the sense of pride exhibited on their faces! They are always sharing their dental adventures from having a loose tooth, to losing a tooth, or telling their story of a cavity they have experienced.
Birthdays September 5 Kristi Terry
We launched with a new site this summer, Lighthouse at Turning Point! This is Kylie. She was a very happy preschooler and excited to be brushing at school!
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We also incorporated a super fun experiment with some of our HSA participants this summer. We used common household products such as yeast, sugar and water to demonstrate how acid can attack our teeth! We used some glass pitchers to represent our mouths, and the yeast was to depict the plaque we constantly carry in our mouth. We filled the pitchers with the same amount of water in each cup, and then added sugar to only one of the cups. After about ten minutes, you could see (Continues on following page)
These ladies from American National were a huge help as they cut and pasted decals for our supply bags. They also filled toothbrush boxes and assembled over 150 bags for our HSA participants!
Healthy Smiles Academy (continued) the difference the sugar was making to that particular “mouth!” The yeast grew in each cup, but it was clearly evident that the yeast in the sugar container grew to be darker and thicker. This was to reveal to them that when we eat sugar, it doesn’t take long for the plaque and sugar combination to turn acidic in our mouths and affect our tooth enamel with potential cavities. The experiment was eye-opening and they loved it! This summer was all about preparing for our busy upcoming fall! We have many volunteers that come in to help the Healthy Smiles Academy, and some are even given a half-day off from their employer and get to choose a charity of their choice. It is a way for them to catch a break from their daily routine and simultaneously give back to our community. Volunteers are a huge asset to our organization, and we cannot do what we do without them!
Tooth Truck Wish List
Ronald McDonald Care Mobile of the Ozarks July 2018 Children Treated:.............. 134 Dental Appointments Provided:.................................200 Year to Date Dental Appointments:................. 1,323 Program to Date Dental Appointments:...............54,112
The kids at Boys and Girls Henderson Club were so intrigued with this dental experiment. They listened and watched so intently!
Action figures Matchbox cars Hair accessories (clips, headbands) Chapstick Jewelry (necklaces, bracelets) Handheld games
Program to Date Value of Treatment:....$15,000,517
DVDs for older children Outdoor toys (bubbles, sidewalk chalk, Frisbees, sports balls) Walmart gift cards Beanie Babies Backpacks Lunch Totes
Volunteer/Staff STAFF
Best Wishes, Emma!
The Tooth Truck staff wishes Emma Davis the very best as she moves on to a new career in the insurance industry. Emma served as the Tooth Truck Office Manager for 4.5 years, impacting a lot of little smiles during that time. Best of luck, Emma!
Welcome New Volunteer, John!
The Tooth Truck would like to welcome John Velo to its volunteer team! John is a former dentist from the Philippines and learned about our program at the Cup O’ Cheer event last year. John has already shown us what a wonderful volunteer he is going to be by jumping in and helping with several different projects on his first shift!
President & CEO Bonnie Keller Program Director Mindy Muñoz Program Manager Tamra Thomas- HSA General Dentist Dr. Sarah Cimino Community Dentists Dr. Raymond Burton Dr. Aaron Dannegger Dr. Brett Durbin Dr. Misty Shelton Office Manager Abbie Dohmen Dental Assistants Abbie Dohmen Megan Sanders Part-Time Dental Assistants Kristi Terry On Call Dental Assistants Amy Baker
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Heart Beats
949 E. Primrose Street Springfield, Missouri 65807-5257
RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
Save the Date
benefiting
Featuring
Tracie Thoms & Jake Simpson
THE 4TH ANNUAL
C
EL
EBRATIN
G
OCTOBER 19
Put on your favorite red shoes and get ready for an unforgettable night during the 4th Annual Red Shoe Gala. This year’s event brings TWICE the entertainment as singer, actress and Broadway star, Tracie Thoms kicks off the evening and then shares the stage with Star Search Grand Champion, Jake Simpson, back by popular demand. Don’t miss the night’s fun with activities including the Youngblood Red Shoe Cam, Shoebox Surprise, and the Red Shoe Contest.
White River Conference Center presented by McDonald’s® of the Ozarks
100% of the proceeds from the Red Shoe Gala benefit Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Ozarks, helping children and families through Springfield’s two Ronald McDonald Houses and the Tooth Truck (our Ronald McDonald Care Mobile). For more information or information about tickets and sponsorship opportunities, visit PutYourRedShoesOn.org or call Kim Booth at 417.875.3505.