WestJet wins again.
Following the overwhelming response to WestJet’s viral Christmas Miracle, they have partnered with Ronald McDonald House Charities Canada to create yet another internet-winning video that is certain to make you cry, smile and warm your heart all at the same time.
To celebrate dads across the country, WestJet decided to surprise Marc Grimard, a very hard working Saskatchewan father with a trip to Edmonton where his youngest son is staying with his mom at the local Ronald McDonald House while he receives treatment at the Stollery Children’s Hospital for a congenital heart condition.
The story is heart breaking and yet very common among Ronald McDonald House families — a sick child and his mother separated for months from a father who needs to stay back home to support his family.
That’s when WestJet steps in. First they provided Marc and his eldest son Mathieu with airfare to Edmonton to visit Joel and mom Angela. Then they sent in one of their very helpful WestJet employees to cover Marc’s job for 5 full days so that this family could be reunited and Marc could celebrate an early Father’s Day with his sons.
You should watch the video (more than once!) and share it because for every 100,000 views the video receives, WestJet will bring together another Ronald McDonald House family (up to 500,000 views).
But why would I write about this on my food blog?
Because Edmonton was my home for a few short years and I have personally walked the hallways of their amazing Stollery Children’s Hospital holding my daughter’s hand on her way to the OR.
Because you don’t have to be rich, a large company or an airline to give back to an amazing organization that provides a home away from home and an invaluable resource to Canadian children and their families.
Because (nearly) every month since I have moved back to Ontario, I have organized my friends and family to cook in our local Ronald McDonad House’s kitchen. Together, a group of six to ten of us cook dinner for 50-60 people who are staying at the House. Most of the families I have the pleasure of interacting with while serving dinner are just trying to maintain a sense of normalcy while caring for a very sick child and are truly grateful for a home cooked meal they didn’t have to plan for, pay for or prepare.
It’s a very small gesture that makes a huge impact in the lives of every day families.
To learn more about Ronald McDonald House Charities Canada and how you can volunteer be sure to check them out online.
If you’re considering organizing a dinner volunteer group at your local Ronald McDonald House feel free to connect with me for tips and tricks I've learned over the last year.
Also, here are a few of my tried and true recipes (i.e., my family loves them and so do the Ronald McDonald House families I've cooked for) that can easily be prepared in large quantities:
Big Batch Meatballs (perfect with my dad’s homemade tomato sauce and spaghetti)
My Grandma’s Christmas Morning Strata (because everyone loves breakfast for dinner)
The Easiest Lasagna You’ve Ever Made
Three Ingredient Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos
Easiest Meatloaf Ever (super yummy with mashed potatoes and gravy!)
Maple Glazed Ham and Easy Scalloped Potatoes
Slow Cooker Chicken Noodle Soup
Beer Rosemary Cheese Bread (HUGE Favourite!)
Now go watch the video!
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