When local families are forced to travel for medical care, something as simple as a hot meal can make an overwhelming time easier. A local fundraising effort by Meals on Wheels Parkes and Forbes has resulted in more than 220 meals being provided to Ronald McDonald House Orange.
The idea for the fundraiser came from a conversation about how often people from the Parkes and Forbes communities rely on Ronald McDonald House Orange when travelling for medical care.
Similar to Meals on Wheels services, the house relies heavily on volunteers and community support to help provide meals for those staying there.
Recognising the shared values between the two services, Jamie Webb and Carolyn Rice from Meals on Wheels Parkes and Forbes proposed a simple but meaningful way to help — inviting Meals on Wheels clients and volunteers to donate the cost of just one meal to help fill the house’s freezers in the lead-up to Christmas.
Running throughout October, the initiative raised $1,780, which directly funded more than 220 meals. These meals will help ease daily pressures for families who are often far from home, supporting loved ones through
illness.
On 15 December, Jamie Webb and Carolyn Rice visited Ronald McDonald House Orange, where they met with Rebecca Walsh, Executive Officer of Ronald McDonald House Charities Central West NSW, to witness the arrival of the first delivery of meals.
The meals were kindly delivered by Sarah Thomas, Manager of Bathurst Meals on
Wheels, who generously supported the initiative and will continue supplying meals as required by the house.
A tour of the facility provided an opportunity to share stories, experiences, and the strong sense of community that underpins all three services.
This fundraiser shows how small ideas supported by local communities can make a real difference during difficult times.