PSI celebrated spring this year in true community fashion by collaborating with the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Ohio, a long time PSI Gives partner. Families involved with the Ronald McDonald House have one or more children undergoing care at the nearby Nationwide Children’s Hospital. The PSI team had the pleasure of serving the families at the organization a well-rounded meal through the Team Cuisine Program.
The Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Ohio is located across the street from Nationwide Children’s Hospital. The facility, staff, and volunteers at Ronald McDonald House provide free accommodations and food for families whose children are patients at the hospital. Their services allow parents who are far from home to stay close to their hospitalized child and benefit from the comforts of home without incurring hotel and food costs.
“By partaking in our Team Cuisine Program, PSI has helped the Program grow more and even better,” said Blair Arms, Chef of Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Ohio. “They provided a great meal for the families and for that RMHC is very grateful for their partnership and support of Team Cuisine.”
By providing a meal and place to stay for the families, Ronald McDonald House hopes to relieve some of the stress parents and siblings are experiencing by absorbing a portion of the responsibilities and costs that can be incurred when away from home.
“We do not charge the families staying at RMHC,” said Blair. “The goal is to help them in any way we can so that they can focus on their child in the hospital.”
During their time at the organization the PSI team planned a meal for Team Cuisine volunteers. They prepped, cooked, and served the lunch to family participants including tuna melts, grilled cheese, and soup.
“The RMDH is an awesome organization in Columbus, Ohio and is actually the second largest in the country,” said Monica Dominic, PSI Vice President of Customer Success. “Knowing that we can help families who need some extra love, attention, and compassion falls right in line with what PSI employees aim to do through PSI Gives. PSI is all about supporting the community that has supported us. We want to help organizations in need in our community and we are fortunate that there are so many wonderful ones to choose from.”
During previous volunteer opportunities with Ronald McDonald House of Central Ohio, PSI has helped clean and ready rooms for incoming families. Sometime in April the team will be returning to make “Snack Packs” for the families. This allows participants to grab a quick bite and bring it with them to their room or to the hospital.
“I have two goals that I always try to achieve [through volunteer events],” said Blair. “The first one is to provide a delicious meal for the families, and the second one is to teach a volunteer something new in the kitchen that they can utilize at home. I believe both goals were met.”
RMHC provides more than 1.4 million overnight stays each year, helping families save nearly over $443 million in lodging and meal expenses. RMHC believes it is the diverse backgrounds, cultures and experiences that each member of the global organization brings to the table everyday that allow the organization to provide the care and support that children and their families need.
Additional services the nonprofit provides include Ronald McDonald Family Room programs, which offer a quiet respite for all families right in the hospital, and Ronald McDonald Care Mobile programs, which bring fundamental medical and dental care to underserved communities. RMHC believes that no family should have to deal with their child’s medical crisis alone. Participation with RMHC can make a big difference whether it’s holding a fundraiser for the global organization or volunteering with the Central Ohio chapter.
Community responsibility is a continuing commitment by PSI to behave ethically and contribute to economic development while improving the quality of life of our workforce and their families as well as of our local community through the “PSI Gives” Program. If your organization is in need of volunteer support, contact info@psi92.com today.
“Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth.”
-Muhammad Ali.