Expand<\/a><\/p>\n\u00a0<\/p>\n
Davis was there with some of her volunteer friends to cook \u201ca feast from the heart\u201d for a full house of 42 adults staying at the RMH while their children were being treated at the hospital.<\/p>\n
\u201cI love being here and helping out as much as I can,\u201d 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe House just had its 14th anniversary,\u201d Davis said. \u201cI can\u2019t think of a better place to help out, especially during this holiday season.\u201d<\/p>\n
Nodding in agreement was Nina Patel, executive director of RMH. \u201cWe are open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year; we never close,\u201d she said. \u201cIt\u2019s 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
Patel said 524 families stayed at the 23 guests rooms at RMH last year, with 7,400 volunteers providing 6,000 hours of support.<\/p>\n
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 \u00bd months old.<\/p>\n
\u201cDoctors discovered cancer in his abdomen which had spread to his head,\u201d said his mother. \u201cI felt like the rug had been swept from under my feet. It was devastating.\u201d<\/p>\n
She said treatment was started immediately at Miller Children\u2019s. It included three surgeries and five chemotherapy treatments, she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s doing real good now,\u201d she said of her son who just turned one year and seven months old.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are excited to be celebrating Christmas this year together at our home,\u201d she said.\u00a0The Salloways also have a daughter, Aurora, who is seven.<\/p>\n
During Remington\u2019s treatment at Miller Children\u2019s 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, \u201cwere all absolutely wonderful and so helpful. They were amazing.\u201d<\/p>\n
One of the staff members she singled out was Kevin Bebe, RMH\u2019s volunteer coordinator.\u00a0Bebe has the demanding job of making sure food is prepared for families every day of the year by volunteers.<\/p>\n
He has handled the job so well he already has every day assigned for all of next year. He\u2019s working on 2027 now. If you want to be one of the RMH volunteers, you should contact Bebe at 562-285-4300.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s an honor to be in my position,\u201d Bebe said. \u201cIt\u2019s 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Ginger Blakkolb, Davis\u2019 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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo me, it\u2019s more than cooking a meal,\u201d she said. \u201cIt\u2019s 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
Davis said that helping families is the best gift she can give them, especially during the holidays.<\/p>\n
\u201cHearing what families are going through keeps life in perspective,\u201d Davis said. \u201cTheir strength fills my heart. It\u2019s not what we get but what we give that makes life meaningful and worth living.\u201d<\/p>\n
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