Ninth graders from the community service-focused Helping Hands Club boarded a bus from the Massapequa High School Ames Campus on the morning of Oct. 17, and made the 20-mile journey to help out families at the Ronald McDonald House in New Hyde Park. Students made brownies, cinnamon rolls, cookies and oatmeal as part of the volunteer baking and brunch programs.
Led by advisers Alyssa Levine and Nicole Reiss, 10 students worked in small groups to bake the items. They came with their own recipes and each student also brought one ingredient. They baked in the Ronald McDonald House kitchen, then put the food out on trays for residents to enjoy.
Families can stay at the Ronald McDonald House while a child is undergoing treatment for a serious illness at the nearby Cohen Children’s Medical Center. The facility has extensive volunteer programs, and the Ames Helping Hands club has been taking part in it for nearly a decade.
“I thought it would be a very nice thing to bake for families that have kids who are in hard situations,” ninth grader Sage Milow said. “I feel bad for the families that have kids who are sick.”
Students learned about the services that the Ronald McDonald House provides and the important role that volunteers play to ensure that families have an enjoyable and comfortable stay as they deal with difficult situations. Ryan Dittenhoefer said she learned that it is a safe space for families and allows them to be close to the hospital.
“It’s nice for them to know that someone cares about them and wants to help,” Ryan said. “It makes me feel good that I’m doing something for the community.”
“It was worthwhile,” added Mackenzie DiBello. “It was for a good cause and I like helping others.”
Aiden Nilsen, who immediately noticed the large Ronald McDonald statue upon arriving, said he enjoyed being able to turn one of his passions into community service.
“I love cooking and I wanted to cook for the people that needed it,” he said.
The parents there probably don’t have much time to cook so it was really special for them.”
Ms. Reiss noted that most students are probably familiar with the money collection boxes at McDonalds restaurants, and this was a chance for them to see where that money goes. It was a good experience for the participants to interact with the families and the volunteers, and see people enjoying the treats they made.
“I think they got a lot out of it,” Ms. Reiss said. “It allowed them to experience circumstances they might not have ever been exposed to before – people who need assistance – and see how the community steps in and helps them out.”
Ms. Levine and Ms. Reiss hope to return to Ronald McDonald House in the spring with other students from Helping Hands. Other upcoming endeavors for the club include a visit to the senior center at McKenna Elementary School in November and the annual holiday book and pajama drive for children.
Photo captions:
1: Ten students from the Helping Hands Club at the Massapequa High School Ames Campus went to the Ronald McDonald House in New Hyde Park on Oct. 17 to bake for families there.
2: Ninth graders, from left, Sage Milow, Aiden Nilsen, Kaitlin Dougherty and Ava Nilsen valued the community service opportunity.
Photos courtesy of the Massapequa School District
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