JOPLIN, Missouri. (Dec. 2, 2021) – Management and employees of Downstream Casino Resort volunteer with Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Four States to spread holiday cheer to house guests and volunteers. The Downstream volunteers decorated the Ronald McDonald House with Christmas ornaments and trees.
“Every year we have our families that stay here at Ronald McDonald House while they have a sick child in the hospital, we don’t want them to miss out on the holidays and we try to make it as cheerful and somewhat normal for them,” said Shirley Hylton, Ronald McDonald House associate director. “So, we put up eight different Christmas trees around the house and it takes a week or more to get everything set up and we rely on volunteers to do that.”
Hylton hopes to have the Downstream volunteers come annually to decorate the house during the holiday season. She also encourages families to see the Christmas display at night and take family photos with the lights. The outside display lights up at approximately 5:30 p.m. daily during the holiday season.
The Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Four States has nine rooms to host guests while their children, from newborns to age 21, recover in the area hospitals. They are also completely operated by volunteers.
The Joplin Ronald McDonald House is always looking for dedicated, reliable volunteers who want to be a part of the charity and help families in need. To volunteer with the organization, call 417-624-2273 or visit rmhjoplin.org. Follow their Facebook page @RMHJoplin for more information.