Photo By Kaylee Larocque | 022616-N-BO364-005 JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (Feb. 26, 2016) Master Chief Avionics...... read more read more
Jacksonville, Fla. – Sailors from the Fleet Readiness Center Southeast (FRCSE) Detachment Jacksonville Chief’s Mess purchased, prepared and served dinner to residents at the Ronald McDonald House in downtown Jacksonville, Feb. 26.
The FRCSE Chief’s Mess raised funds to purchase the ingredients to make a meal of gumbo and spaghetti for the families staying at the “home away from home” who have children undergoing medical procedures at nearby hospitals. Several Sailors volunteered their time to prepare and cook the meal in the newly constructed Ronald McDonald House kitchen.
“We came up with the idea to volunteer here, so I researched it and contacted them to see how we could help out,” said Chief Aviation Support Equipment Technician Justo Valverde of FRCSE Southeast Detachment Jacksonville and volunteer coordinator for the FRCSE Chief’s Mess. “We decided we wanted to do this. After deciding what to make and determining how much food to buy, we went shopping and got a group to volunteer to come cook.”
The group of “chief chefs” spent several hours preparing chicken and sausage for gumbo, cutting up vegetables and fruit, cooking meat, boiling spaghetti and baking garlic bread to serve the residents.
“It has to be extremely difficult for these families to have sick children who have to go through medical treatments and be away from their homes,” said Master Chief Avionics Technician (AW/SW) Fred Flaherty who participated in the volunteer event. “So for us to come here and provide this meal for them is just one small way to be able to help out. I’ve volunteered at Ronald McDonald Houses at different locations where I’ve been stationed.
“It gives you a sense of pride and professionalism to volunteer in our communities.”
Ronald McDonald House employees enjoy when military members come out to pitch in, said Tonda Hoyton, Ronald McDonald House Family Services associate.
“They have been so supportive,” Hoyton said. “We’ve
been doing a lot of construction lately expanding the house, so groups of Sailors have come to help move furniture and clean some of our areas. We really appreciate all that they do.”
Ronald McDonald House Development Director Carol Harrison agreed.
“I want to thank you so very much for coming here tonight and doing this for our families,” Harrison said. “It means so much to them to come back from the hospital and have a home-cooked meal. This is the heart of our house and our families bond when they share meals here.
“They are all going through similar circumstances with sick children so it helps to talk to others going through the same situation.”
The Ronald McDonald House, located on the Southbank of Jacksonville, features 30 bedrooms and is under expansion to increase to 54 rooms for families in need of housing while their children undergo medical procedures. Volunteers can assist with nightly meals, special events and other projects.
| Date Taken: | 02.26.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 03.14.2016 13:18 |
| Story ID: | 192279 |
| Location: | JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA, US |
| Web Views: | 26 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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