Make Change, Change Lives: Student-led Initiative Benefits Ronald McDonald House

LOVE AND SERVE

Here at St. Timothy School, our motto guides all that we do. Every day, we strive to "live in faith; love and serve; and learn for life." St. Timothy students, guided by the Home & School Association, recently participated in "Make Change, Change Lives," a service project to benefit the Ronald McDonald House of Columbus. Led by Mrs. Katie Purcell of the Home & School Association, St. Timothy students learned about this amazing local organization, voted upon a goal, and worked together to help the RMHC make a difference for families in their time of need. 

Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Ohio

For more than thirty years, Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Ohio (RMHC) has provided a home-away-from-home for families with children who are hospitalized or undergoing surgery, primarily at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. With 137 guest rooms, the Columbus Ronald McDonald House is the largest in the world. 

Mrs. Purcell met with students in each class at St. Timothy School, and introduced them to the Ronald McDonald House Charities with a short presentation and a video telling the story of one of the families touched by this organization. The care and concern expressed by our students was beautiful and touching. They expressed empathy for families with lives and situations very different from their own, and were inspired to make a difference for the families staying at the Columbus Ronald McDonald House.

Election Day with a Twist - St. Timothy Students Vote For a Fundraising Goal

As a non-profit organization, the RMHC depends on the generosity of the community to help families in their times of need. They have a long wish list of items needed!

RMHC.jpg

On election day, St. Timothy students cast their vote for one of the items needed by RMHC, and pledged to raise funds to purchase the winning item.

The students voted during the lunch period on election day, and the ballots were tallied. The Pack N Play was the clear winner of our election with more than 50% of the votes.

Following our election, all students - even those who voted for another item - began raising funds to purchase the Pack N Play for The Ronald McDonald House.

  • Pack N Play (132 votes, 51.4%)
  • Cleaning Supplies (109 votes, 42.4%)
  • High Chair (16 votes, 6.2%)

Make Change, Change Lives

Students, inspired by their new awareness of the Ronald McDonald House and empowered by their participation in setting the fundraising goal, began collecting change to purchase the Pack N Play. Students brought in money from their piggy banks, did extra jobs to earn money, and asked parents and friends for donations.

In just two weeks, St. Timothy School students collected more than $310 in change! As a result, St. Timothy School was able to purchase not only the Pack N Play, but also the high chair and the cleaning supplies!