Heart Beats March/April 2024

HeartBEATS

MARCH/APRIL

2024 Share A Heart

The 31st Annual Share a Heart Campaign numbers are in, and we are thrilled to announce net proceeds of nearly $135,000! Thanks to McDonald’s restaurants across the Ozarks, and the generosity of our community sponsors, we are once again truly blessed with the dedication of our supporters, all to benefit our Ronald McDonald House families!

The 2024 Share a Heart Campaign, presented by McDonald’s of the

Ozarks, continues to thrive with support from Media Sponsor, KY3; Leadership Sponsor, Great Southern Bank; and Supporting Sponsors, Mid-Am Metal Forming, Inc. and Colorgraphic Printing.

The lifeblood of Share a Heart’s success are the McDonald’s employees who engage with customers and encourage them to support our two Ronald McDonald Houses that help so many families in their local communities. Thank

you to all the crew members, managers and owner/operators. We are so incredibly grateful to each and every one of you for sharing your hearts with our families! We have some special recognition coming your way!

Welcome, Ashley French!

We are pleased to welcome Ashley French to Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Ozarks! She joins the organization as our Director of Philanthropy.

Ashley has a long history serving nonprofit organizations in our area, including 17 years in various roles at the Ozarks Regional YMCA including Child Care Director, Branch Executive Director at the Downtown Y, and District Director of Operations. In 2016, she was named the CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Ozarks in Springfield. She not only led the

creation of the Think Big Foundation which is now a separate 501(c)(3), Ashley was instrumental in bringing BBBS through much of the pandemic. Most recently, Ashley served as the Director of Women and Children’s Services and Director of Community Impact at Jordan Valley Community Health Center.

Ashley and her family live in Strafford where she has served as the mayor for 6 years — and she proclaimed February 12-18 “Ronald McDonald House Week” for the Share a Heart Campaign right after joining RMHC.

She and her husband, Jeremy, have three grown children and became foster parents in August.

Ashley has been an amazing addition to our team over the past two+ months and we look forward to her continued contributions to the success of our organization and mission.

PRESENTING SPONSOR LEADERSHIP SPONSORS SUPPORTING SPONSORS

COLORGRAPHIC PRINTING

From The Staff Heart of the House

House Near Cox South

Happy Anniversary

1 Year

Zachary McCubbins

Stori Johnson

6 Years

Rebecca Reser

18 Years

Eileen Meinsen

31 Years

Debbie Kinser

Current Active Volunteers:

Terri Carr

Olivia Cason

Barry Chole

Sandy Davis

Blake Dowdy

Shantel Doyle

Vanessa Goetz

Amy Grubaugh

Carol Harris

Briana Jenkins

Regina Marshall

Eileen Meinsen

Larry Meinsen

Morgan Mitchell

Donna Patterson

Kailey Plaskett

Brenda Podewitz

Beka Rasor

Becky Reser

Crystal Schneider

Randy Slocum

Grace Stagner

Kim Stagner

Ivy Starks

Gail Sours

Paul Walley

Kellie Wirtz

Abigail Weitzel

Joanna Weitzel

Scott Weitzel

Travis Weitzel

Welcome New Volunteers to the House near Cox South, Shantel Doyle, Vanessa Goetz, and Kailey Plaskett!

House At Mercy Kids

Current Active Volunteers:

Samantha Ball

Aylene Brown

Rebecca Curtis

Sandy Emberton

Tristian Failla

Ann Griesemer

Sarah Han

Chiquita Hendrick

Stori Johnson

Zachary McCubbins

Sondra Rader

Alexandra Ross

Kathy Rice

Sheridan Sellers

Jessica Steward

Molly Stood

Tori Tomlin

Chasity Warriner

Cora Wehr

Welcome New Volunteers to the House at Mercy Kids, Rebecca Curtis, Cora Wehr, Chasity Warriner, and Kathy Rice!

RMHC Staff

President & CEO

Bonnie Keller

Vice President

Debbie Kinser

Tooth Truck Program Director

Mindy Muñoz

Director of Philanthropy

Ashley French

Development Assistant

Kim Booth

Development Coordinator

Katie Serangeli

RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE NEAR COX SOUTH

Program Manager

Danielle Harp

Associate Program Manager

Michael Brittain

Family Care Managers

Jacob Golden

Austin Gormley

Jennifer Grooms

Megan Mashburn

Jessica Steward

Makayla Wise

RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE AT MERCY KIDS

Program Manager

Justin Wilson

Family Care Managers

Skylar Ball

Danielle Hensen

Julie Holt

Savannah Keller

Jack Osborn

Jessica Steward

Makayla Wise

Family Dinner Spotlight

The BookClubbers

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

Our group has been providing meals at Ronald McDonald House since January 11th, 2024. Sometimes it is our full group that comes out and serves. The last few times it has just been a couple of us!

How did you get involved with the Family Dinner Program?

Danielle Harp is in my Networking Group. As well as Makayla Wise is my cousin.

What is your favorite thing about participating in the Family Dinner Program?

When the families poke their heads into the kitchen to see what smells so good and tell us they're excited for when it's done!

Dinner Groups!

RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE NEAR COX SOUTH

Annie Uhrlaub

Autumn- CofO Nursing

Barylski Family

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter

Day Saints

Circle 7- Campbell UMC

Cmpassus

Covey Family

CoxHealth Information Technology

Crystal Palicki

Deryk Morelock

Fair Grove National Honor Society

Friends of the Blue Silos

Hamilton Family

Julie Settle

Kelsey Melugin

Little Caesar’s

McDonald’s of Lebanon

Megan Welch

Oak Grove Assembly of God

Parkcrest Baptist Church

Pat Moore-Cook

Pisgah Baptist Church

Pyatt Dental

Rasey Family

Stella C

Stepdown Unit at Cox South

Taco Bunch

Team Janet

The Girlfriends

Turner Urgent Care

RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE AT MERCY KIDS

Ball Family

Bambino’s

Bricktown Brewery

Brittany Pope

Cochran Engineering

Cmpassus

Fair Grove National Honor Society

Fly Fishers at the Crossing

Gina McClanahan

Han Family

Houlihans

Jordan Heinz State Farm

Julie Gray

Kamryn Hesington

Little Caesar’s

Lois & Jessica

Mercy 4C

Mercy Core Lab

Mercy Epic Mision Control

Mercy HYPE

Mercy Microbiology Lab

Mercy Oncology

Mercy Pre-Reg Team

Pisgah Baptist Church

What would you say to anyone considering volunteering for the Family Dinner Program? It's an excellent kitchen to move around in, and when it's all done and ready to plate, it's a wonderful feeling knowing it'll be enjoyed by families that could use a good meal.

Birthdays

March 9

Rebecca Reser

March 10

Rebecca Curtis

March 14

Travis Weitzel

March 22

Carol Harris

April 20

Jack Osborn

April 23

Danielle Henson

Alexandra Ross

Union Hill Church of Christ

Weitzels

Whitney Kloss

OPEN DINNER DATES:

April: 21, 26 / May 4, 11, 12, 15

SBU Nursing

Townplace Suites

Wilson Family

Ziggie’s

OPEN DINNER

DATES:

April: 20, 23, 28 / May 4, 5, 6, 10, 12

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

Around the Houses

Super Bowl Sunday

Super Bowl Sunday became a heartwarming escape for families at the Ronald McDonald House near Cox South, thanks to the Weitzel Family’s generosity. Their delicious spread of appetizers and desserts transformed the House into a festive haven. Sharing a meal and enjoying the game together created lasting memories for these families facing challenges. This is the essence of the Ronald McDonald House – a “home-away-from-home” where even during difficult times, a sense of normalcy and community can blossom. Simple acts of kindness, like the Weitzel’s, make a profound difference.

Missouri Farm Bureau

Each year, the Missouri Farm Bureau participates in “Thank a Farmer” Week, a time to celebrate the abundance of food, fuel and fiber produced by the American farmer. Each year during this week, county Farm Bureau volunteers give back to their local communities in a variety of ways, including an annual donation to Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Ozarks. This year, multiple Farm Bureaus joined together to provide monetary donations, needed snacks, household supplies, and personal hygiene items, and delivered a pizza lunch for families staying at the House near Cox South.

This year, representatives from Greene, Christian, Taney, Stone, Webster and Taney Counties were in attendance and one collegiate chapter, as well as Glendale and Willard FFA Chapters. Thank you, Missouri Farm Bureau, for your support. We are grateful for you this week and every week!

A Gift in Memory of Mark Pinkerton

The Pinkerton Family has been part of our local Ronald McDonald House history since 1985 when Sandy responded to a community call to help build a new Ronald McDonald House in Springfield. She and her family had relocated to Springfield from Columbia, where Mark was involved in starting and building the Ronald McDonald House of Mid-Missouri. While in Columbia, the Pinkertons experienced the unthinkable with their oldest son, Matthew, who required a long NICU stay and then passed away. Mark and Sandy both poured their hearts into ensuring families would have the hope, comfort, and “home-away-from-home” of the Ronald McDonald House programs, both in Columbia and Springfield.

After Mark’s passing in December 2022, Sandy and their two sons wanted to find a way to touch future House families through the many contributions made in Mark’s memory. The family chose new Polywood seating areas for the front and back porches, providing long-lasting intimate areas for families to share their experiences and support with each other as they navigate the healthcare journey of a seriously ill or injured child. We know Mark would be so happy to know his legacy and efforts continue to help the hearts and lives of families who need the Ronald McDonald House. We are honored to have this amazing gift at the Ronald McDonald House near Cox South and extend our gratitude and many blessings to the Pinkerton Family.

Mercy Community Service Fair

Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Ozarks joined over 30 organizations at Mercy Hospital’s Community Service Fair on March 6th. This event provided a valuable opportunity to connect with hospital staff and share our mission: supporting families with sick or injured children in our community. We showcased our work and explored ways for co-workers to get involved, either as recurring volunteers at the House or through our “Meals from the Heart” program.

The event was a resounding success, with over 30 individuals expressing interest in supporting our mission. We are excited to welcome these new volunteers and partners as we continue to provide vital support to families facing difficult times.

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!

Staff Stuff

Mission Moment

The Ehrhart Family

The Ehrhart Family’s journey to welcome their twin boys, Maximus and Collyn, was filled with unexpected challenges and heartwarming support. Diagnosed prenatally with Twin-to-Twin Transfusion Syndrome (TTTS), a rare and serious condition affecting identical twins sharing a placenta, the boys faced an uphill battle from the start.

TTTS can lead to unequal blood and nutrient sharing between the twins, putting both at risk. Faced with this daunting reality, the Ehrharts underwent a delicate fetal surgery at 22 weeks to laser the problematic blood vessel connections in the placenta. While initially successful, the TTTS returned, necessitating repeat surgery at 24 weeks.

Despite the interventions, the boys’ journey continued to unfold prematurely. At 30 weeks, the mother’s water broke, leading to the early arrival of Maximus and Collyn. Collyn entered the world naturally, while Max required a C-section. Though born early, both boys received excellent care in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).

Living two hours away from the hospital presented an additional hurdle for the family,

which also includes their 3-year-old son, Fynn, who stayed with the grandparents. Fortunately, they found a beacon of hope in the Ronald McDonald House.

The Ronald McDonald House has become more than just a place to stay for the Ehrharts. It has alleviated the financial strain associated with being unable to work while caring for their sons in the NICU. More importantly, it has provided invaluable emotional support for the entire family. The warmth, kindness and sense of community fostered at RMHC has offered muchneeded solace during this challenging time.

“While we long to be home with our boys, everyone at the Ronald McDonald House has made this experience feel as close to home as possible,” expressed the parents. “We are incredibly grateful for their generosity and support.”

The Ehrhart Family’s story is a testament to the strength of the human spirit and the power of community support in the face of adversity. After 89 nights at the Ronald McDonald House, the Ehrharts headed home as a family of 5 to start their greatest adventure yet!

House Volunteer Spotlight

Rebecca Curtis

Rebecca is a new volunteer and has been a great addition to the team at the House at Mercy Kids! She is studying to be a Physical Therapist. She has been in dance most of her life and is now a dance instructor. She has jumped right into the mission of the Ronald McDonald House, and we are so excited about her joining our volunteer team.

What is your favorite thing to do in the House? Organizing and cooking!

What do you enjoy in your free time?

I like to read books and go to the movies!

How did you learn about the Ronald McDonald House?

From a friend who utilized the house when their baby was in the NICU.

What do you enjoy most about volunteering with our organization?

I really enjoy meeting new people through the organization and hearing their stories!

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

I have a twin sister!

Thank you to our Meals from the Heart Groups

A heartfelt thank you to all our incredible “Meals from the Heart” groups! Your generosity and dedication nourish more than just the bodies of families staying at our two Springfield Ronald McDonald Houses – you nourish their spirits as well.

The delicious meals you prepare provide a sense of comfort for families facing the stress and uncertainty of having a sick or injured child. Your compassion and care make a profound difference in their lives, allowing them to focus on their loved ones during a challenging time.

We are incredibly grateful for your partnership

and commitment to our mission. Together, we can continue to create a supportive and caring environment for families in need.

Thank you for making a difference!

Are you interested in joining our amazing community of “Meals from the Heart” groups? We welcome individuals, families, and organizations to share their culinary talents and bring joy to families staying at either House. Visit our website at www.rmhcozarks.org or contact us at 417-820-0764 to learn more!

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.

Heart of the Truck

Patch Clay

McKenna Courtney

Emily Dunn

Jennifer Hardy

Kaydance Knifong

Susan Lemmon

Kaylee Ludwig

Brayden Pierce

Clare Scheier

Joanna Stalzer

Tooth Talk A Celebration of 13 Years

by Dr. Sarah Cimino

Birthdays

March 5

Cassie Staiger

April 1

Dr. Aaron Dannegger

April 28

Joscelyn Flores

Believe it or not, I just finished my 13th year as the dentist on the Tooth Truck! If you are superstitious then it may be an unlucky number for you, but I’d rather side with the Swifties and take the view that it is one of the best numbers. Every year around my anniversary, I like to come to this section of the Heart Beats newsletter to share some insight, musings or reflections about the Tooth Truck. This year I thought I’d take the opportunity to answer a question that was posed to me the other day when an incoming RMHC Board Member came for a tour of the Tooth Truck. She asked:

“What do you need from the community to continue with the Tooth Truck mission?”

My immediate answer was that all our needs were met thanks to the amazing oversight and administration of the program. While this is 100% true, I did think it over some more and realized that my answer should have been, “talk about the Tooth Truck”. Allow me to elaborate.

It’s easy to think that everyone in our community knows about the Tooth Truck because we’ve been here since 2002 serving the unmet dental needs of children. Personally, I feel like everyone must know about us because just in the last few weeks I talked about our program with the first year dental student class at the new dental school in Joplin, the principal at Jarrett (the amazing Dr. Slater), the barista making my coffee at Big Mommas, the soccer moms next to me at practice, the mechanic changing my oil and the random person standing next to me in line at Costco. The reality is, there is still a large portion of our community that doesn’t know about us but probably knows or even has a child that could benefit from our services. So, I would encourage all of you reading this to tell your friends, family,

Dr. Sarah has completed an impressive 13 years repairing smiles on the Tooth Truck.

neighbors, and the random people in line with you at the store about the Tooth Truck.

- Tell them that we have an online application that allows someone to apply for our services in about two minutes. All the local school nurses also have access to our applications so we can easily send one home in a backpack.

- Tell them all our dental services are FREE to qualifying families.

- Tell them that, if we don’t come to their child’s school, then their families can bring them to us at a nearby location to still be seen.

- Tell them that our staff is passionate about helping kids have a smile that they are proud of and educating them on ways to keep their mouth healthy.

Tooth Truck Wish List

Welcome to Cassie

We are excited to announce Cassie Staiger will be leading the Healthy Smiles Academy as its Program Manager. Cassie has a bachelor’s degree in communication studies and approximately 10 years of experience in the dental field, the last 2 spent teaching continuing education in dental offices. She looks forward to the opportunity to impact children in our community in this new role. Cassie and her husband operate a small farm and like to spend lots of time making memories on it with their two kids. We are so thrilled to have you on our team, Cassie!

Action figures

Matchbox cars

Hair accessories (clips, headbands)

Chapstick

Clorox Wipes

Handheld games

Just some of the many smiles Dr. Sarah has met over the past year STAFF PRESIDENT & CEO

Jewelry (necklaces, bracelets)

DVDs for older children

Outdoor toys (bubbles, sidewalk chalk, Frisbees, sports balls)

Walmart gift cards

Beanie Babies

Welcome to New Volunteers

The Tooth Truck volunteer program has grown by two! We are happy to welcome Kaylee Ludwig and Brayden Pierce to our team.

Kaylee is a sophomore at MSU studying biology, chemistry and business. She has wanted to pursue a career in the dental field since she was 8 years old.

Brayden is a freshman biochemistry major at Drury who recently helped establish a pre-dental club at his school. Both his father and grandfather are dentists, so dentistry runs in the family!

Bonnie Keller

DIRECTORRONALD MCDONALD CARE MOBILE

Mindy Muñoz

HEALTHY SMILES ACADEMY

PROGRAM MANAGER

Cassie Staiger

GENERAL DENTIST

Dr. Sarah Cimino

COMMUNITY DENTISTS

Dr. Ernest Curry

Dr. Aaron Dannegger

Dr. Caryl Earp

DENTAL ASSISTANTS

Megan Sanders

Kassidy Tuttle

PART-TIME DENTAL ASSISTANT

Brea Mareschal

OFFICE COORDINATOR

Joscelyn Flores

RMHC MONTH AT CBCO

March was Ronald McDonald House

Charities of the Ozarks month at Community Blood Center of the Ozarks. LifePoints are earned by all donors and may be designated to a CBCO charity. If the March points were designated to RMHC of the Ozarks by April 5, CBCO TRIPLED the value of LifePoints to benefit our children and families!

We encourage blood donors to continue supporting CBCO all year long! Local blood donors help local patients and with one donation to CBCO, you can help up to three people in local hospitals. Learn more at cbco.org/lifepoints-lift!