Bearing sacks of soccer balls and four dozen cupcakes, Alexa Schwab, her sister, Madison, and nine of their soccer-playing friends from Linglestown Middle School brought holiday cheer to the Ronald McDonald House in Hershey on Dec. 14.
Alexa, 11, a sixth-grader, got the idea for the event as part of the community service she is doing for her bat mitzvah.
Alexa Schwab, 11, of Linglestown (second from left), organized donation of cupakes and soccer balls to Ronald McDonald House in Hershey with her CASA Magic teammates. Here, Amy Martin, 18 months, of Lancaster County, received a soccer ball from (left to right) Cassie Everly, 12, of Mechanicsburg; Alexa Schwab; Jenna Shoop, 12, of Linglestown; Becca Smith, 11, of Linglestown; McKenzie Crawford, 12, of Dillsburg; Madison Schwab, 13, of Linglestown; and Lauren Resnick, 13, of Linglestown. ? She was inspired after learning the story behind the Josh Klein 5K Memorial Run, which is in memory of a midstate man who died of cancer. Alexa said Josh?s goal was to play one season of soccer, which is a sport she loves. She and 50 of her soccer teammates, friends and family ran and raised $1,000 in September.
She and her family extended the effort, deciding to offer a holiday project for the Ronald McDonald House in Hershey.
?I want them to be able to play soccer like I can,? Alexa said, of children who might be ill and undergoing cancer treatment. ?I want them to have the same experiences I?ve had.?
With some of the money they raised in the 5K, Alexa?s family purchased dozens of brightly colored soccer balls in three sizes and four dozen cupcakes for those at the house to decorate.
Her mom, Patty Schwab, was proud of the girls, saying it isn?t every day kids realize how lucky they are. ?Even at this young age, they can make such a difference,? she said.
Alexa said she knew of the Ronald McDonald House through the recycling club at her school, which collected soda pull-tabs for the charity. She had visited the house before, but for most of her friends, it was their first visit.
The girls distributed soccer balls to young people staying in the house for treatment, or their siblings, with the rest going to the toy room for distribution to future house guests.
One of the recipients was 18-month-old Amy Martin of Lancaster County, who picked out a bright pink soccer ball. She is recovering from an August bone marrow transplant to hopefully cure her leukemia, said her mother, Dorothy Martin. They?ve been at the house frequently since Amy was diagnosed in January, and she hopes to be going home in a couple of weeks, Dorothy Martin said.
?It?s great ? it?s like a home away from home,? she said of the facility.
Kelly Mehaffie, assistant development manager at the Ronald McDonald House, said 35 families can be accommodated each night at the house, which was expanded in 2010. Usually it is at about 82 percent occupancy, with five nights the average stay per family.
Individuals or groups interested in donating to or helping the house through special projects can contact Mehaffie at 717-533-4001, ext. 161.
Source: http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2012/12/ronald_mcdonald_house_benefits.html
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