Members of the Burton Team did some summer volunteering at the Ronald McDonald House of Charities (RMHC) on Friday, June 28. Feeding the residents of RHMC dinner is always a privilege and an incredible experience. The interior of the house, located in Brookhaven, has a warm and cozy feeling, differentiating it from a hospital or a traditional hotel and is equipped to house around 31 families cost free. Families with sick or injured children that stay at the house have often experienced traumatic accidents and are under a lot of stress. After all that the patients and families go through each day, providing a hot dinner is one less thing that they have to worry about or pay for. Additionally, it gives families the comfort of a home cooked meal away from home.
When it came to preparation and cooking, we had to get a little creative because the kitchen was being renovated, meaning we did not have access to the stove, kitchen sink, oven, or ample counter space. Thanks to excellent planning and coordination by the RMHC representative and our Burton “head chef”, we were able to make a full meal without a kitchen! In the true spirit of a summer cookout, we utilized the grill area outside for most of our menu items, which included grilled BBQ chicken breast, grilled cheddar sausage, grilled corn on the cob, grilled pita, baked beans, fresh green salad, and strawberry shortcake. Of all the menu items, the grilled sausage and strawberry shortcake seemed to be the crowd favorites.
Overall, we fed a little under 20 people residing at the RMHC and there was no shortage of food. A few residents even took plates to-go. After chatting with many of the diners, we learned how grateful they were to be able to stay in such a friendly place and they made sure to express gratitude for all of the volunteers that donate time and food to the house. The residents of the RMHC in Brookhaven were full of smiles and tasty food when we left them.
