Jennifer Davis was ready to work, but not at her usual job dealing in real estate.
On this work day last week, Jennifer’s office was the kitchen at the Ronald McDonald House.
It’s the home away from home for families of children facing critical, often life threatening, illnesses at nearby MemorialCare Miller Children’s and Women’s Hospital, on the campus of Long Beach Memorial Medical Center.
Brittany Salloway and her son Remington in a recent photo. The Salloway family lived for two and a half months last year at Ronald McDonald House while Remington was receiving treatment for cancer at Miller Children’s Hospital in Long Beach. (Photo courtesy of Brittany Salloway)
Executive Director Nina Patel and Volunteer Coordinator Kevin Bebe for Ronald McDonald House of Long Beach in December 2025. (Photo courtesy of Rich Archbold)
Volunteer Jennifer Davis and Press-Telegram columnist Rich Archbold at Ronald McDonald House of Long Beach on December 8, 2025. (Photo courtesy of Rich Archbold)
Volunteers Jennifer Davis (right) and her aunt Ginger Blakkolb cook broccoli for the families staying at Ronald McDonald House of Long Beach on December 8, 2025. (Photo courtesy of Rich Archbold)
Volunteers Karen Denyer (left) and Jennifer Davis get into the holiday spirit at Ronald McDonald House of Long Beach on December 8, 2025. (Photo courtesy of Rich Archbold)
Standing in front of the volunteer signup calendar is Kevin Bebe, volunteer coordinator for Ronald McDonald House of Long Beach on December 8, 2025. Bebe has the demanding job of making sure food is prepared for families every day of the year by volunteers. (Photo courtesy of Rich Archbold)
Volunteers Lori Daunis (left) and daughter Tatum Mosier decorate cookies at Ronald McDonald House of Long Beach on December 8, 2025. (Photo courtesy of Rich Archbold)
Volunteers Jennifer Davis and Fred Daunis, a retired firefighter, barbecue tri-tips for the families staying at Ronald McDonald House of Long Beach on December 8, 2025. (Photo courtesy of Rich Archbold)
Retired teacher Vicky Brickman decorates cookies at Ronald McDonald House of Long Beach on December 8, 2025. (Photo courtesy of Rich Archbold)
The Timoney family, including father Sean, mother Adriana and daughters, Gabriella and Juliette, volunteer at Ronald McDonald House of Long Beach on December 8, 2025. (Photo courtesy of Rich Archbold)
Volunteers decorate holiday cookies at Ronald McDonald House of Long Beach on December 8, 2025. (Photo courtesy of Rich Archbold)
Show Caption
1 of 11
Brittany Salloway and her son Remington in a recent photo. The Salloway family lived for two and a half months last year at Ronald McDonald House while Remington was receiving treatment for cancer at Miller Children’s Hospital in Long Beach. (Photo courtesy of Brittany Salloway)
Davis was there with some of her volunteer friends to cook “a feast from the heart” for a full house of 42 adults staying at the RMH while their children were being treated at the hospital.
“I love being here and helping out as much as I can,” Davis said. She estimated that she has cooked more than 100 meals for breakfasts, lunches and dinners since she began cooking at RMH since it opened on Dec. 15, 2011.
“The House just had its 14th anniversary,” Davis said. “I can’t think of a better place to help out, especially during this holiday season.”
Nodding in agreement was Nina Patel, executive director of RMH. “We are open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year; we never close,” she said. “It’s amazing to me how much love and passion comes from the volunteers and staff here. When you have a sick child, all you worry about is your child. When parents come here, they feel safe and secure, and they can concentrate on their child.”
Patel said 524 families stayed at the 23 guests rooms at RMH last year, with 7,400 volunteers providing 6,000 hours of support.
One of the families staying at RMH was Brittany and Joel Salloway, of San Pedro, whose son, Remington, was diagnosed with a rare form of neuroblastoma cancer when he was 5 ½ months old.
“Doctors discovered cancer in his abdomen which had spread to his head,” said his mother. “I felt like the rug had been swept from under my feet. It was devastating.”
She said treatment was started immediately at Miller Children’s. It included three surgeries and five chemotherapy treatments, she said.
“He’s doing real good now,” she said of her son who just turned one year and seven months old.
“We are excited to be celebrating Christmas this year together at our home,” she said. The Salloways also have a daughter, Aurora, who is seven.
During Remington’s treatment at Miller Children’s last year, his family spent two and a half months at RMH. Brittany Salloway thanked all of the volunteers and staff at RMH, who, she said, “were all absolutely wonderful and so helpful. They were amazing.”
One of the staff members she singled out was Kevin Bebe, RMH’s volunteer coordinator. Bebe has the demanding job of making sure food is prepared for families every day of the year by volunteers.
He has handled the job so well he already has every day assigned for all of next year. He’s working on 2027 now. If you want to be one of the RMH volunteers, you should contact Bebe at 562-285-4300.
“It’s an honor to be in my position,” Bebe said. “It’s not everyone who can say that on a daily basis they get to see the best side of humanity. I always thank my volunteers for showing up and showing the best side of who they are.”
On her day at RMH, Jennifer Davis and her friends cooked up a mouth-watering meal of tri-tip steaks, grilled chicken, mashed potatoes, steamed broccoli, caesar salad and Christmas gingerbread cookies.
Ginger Blakkolb, Davis’ aunt, helped with the broccoli and potatoes.Fred Daunis, a retired firefighter, was in charge of handling the tri-tip steaks. His wife, Lori, a pre-K teacher at Minnie Gant Elementary School, and daughter, Tatum Mosier, a cosmetologist, decorated gingerbread cookies, along with Vicky Brickman, a retired math and science teacher at Newcomb Academy.
Jodi Carter wrote holiday cards to families staying at RMH. Also helping were Karen Denyer and the Timoney family, including father Sean, mother Adriana and daughters, Gabriella and Juliette.
Davis said that more than 50 people helped her on her cooking day, either by being at RMH personally or by making donations and giving toys. Davis volunteers at RMH nine days a year.
“To me, it’s more than cooking a meal,” she said. “It’s all the other things that volunteers do to help families. Ronald McDonald House is such a beautiful organization. I thank RMH for giving me an opportunity to serve people.”
Davis said that helping families is the best gift she can give them, especially during the holidays.
“Hearing what families are going through keeps life in perspective,” Davis said. “Their strength fills my heart. It’s not what we get but what we give that makes life meaningful and worth living.”