Volunteers keep the doors open

Viewers tuning into the Ronald McDonald House telethon tonight on WTVC NewsChannel 9 (Comcast channel 10) will hear emotional, personal stories told by families who have found lodging in the house during the days their hospitalized children were treated.

But the telethon will also highlight local residents who have helped keep the doors open to those in need.

The Chattanooga Ronald McDonald House is celebrating its 20th anniversary this fall. Tonight's telethon will recognize volunteers who have given their time through both decades.

Of the 570 people who volunteer in either the house or the Ronald McDonald Family Room inside T.C. Thompson Children's Hospital, 44 of them have been doing so for 20 years, according to Chinyere Ubamadu, marketing director for the house.

"Our volunteers are crucial to our ability to serve families who are facing crises with a seriously ill child in the hospital," said Jane Kaylor, executive director of Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Chattanooga.

"Our volunteers are cross-generational, community folks who bring a variety of skills and interests. The common thread is their passion about our mission -- helping families with seriously ill children," Ms. Kaylor said.

Ms. Kaylor said it takes approximately eight volunteers per day at both locations to help run those facilities.

"The cost savings from our volunteers is immense -- thousands of dollars if we were to calculate it all. They work an average of 30,000 hours per year, helping with so many areas including cooking for families, assisting with light office tasks, providing support for special events and simply just being there to lend a hand," she said.

VOLUNTEER PROFILES

These volunteers have worked for the Ronald McDonald House since it was under construction.

Marilyn Boxell

* Occupation: Civic volunteer.

* How she became involved: Heard about plans to open a Ronald McDonald House through membership in the Medical Alliance.

* Volunteer positions: She and Nancy Harvey have worked a shift in the house for 20 years; Ms. Harvey also works a shift in the Family Room. The two women chaired the 15th anniversary party. Mrs. Boxell volunteered at the first RMH children's festival, has worked fundraisers and recruited new volunteers.

* Memorable moment: "It is most exciting to me to see families leaving the house because they are taking their children home. When a child is well enough to go home, we gather round and take pictures, help them gather their belongings and see them off. Every time I leave the house, I am so full of emotion."

Henry Hoss

* Occupation: Certified public accountant with Barto, Hoss & Co.

* How he became involved: "I was asked by a CPA buddy, Louis Wright, to help out during construction by handling accounting and disbursements of funds. I have been the house treasurer since."

* Volunteer positions: Board member, has worked a shift in the Family Room with his wife for 13 years, works all fundraisers.

* Memorable moment: "Right about the time we were opening the house there was a major wreck near Bowater (the 99-vehicle pileup of 1990). Several members of the families involved in that wreck stayed at the Ronald McDonald House. There were children here while their parents were recuperating. I remember one little boy whose dad was killed and his mom was in the hospital. His grandmother flew in from Oklahoma to stay with him at the house. That was the beginning of my experience with the Ronald McDonald House and the way it would help families."

Beth Painter

* Occupation: Co-owner of Green Thumb Nursery.

* How she became involved: Ronald McDonald House Charities is the national philanthropy of her sorority, Alpha Delta Pi.

* Volunteer positions: Board member since the house was under construction, fundraising chairman, 20th anniversary chairman, chaired first RMH online auction, chaired phonathon for eight years, has worked all fundraisers.

* Memorable moment: "There was a terminally ill, 8-year-old girl staying in the house during her last days. Her mother came in one night and said her daughter really wanted a puppy and asked if anyone had one.

My son, Eric, had recently brought home a little mutt. We brought it to the girl's room and her mom laid it on her shoulder. She had been unconscious, but she rallied, took her mask off and had pictures made with the puppy. The puppy snuggled right up, never whined or cried, but just lay on that little girl's shoulder for 23 hours until she died."

Pearl Wong

* Occu-pation: Social worker for T.C. Thompson Children's Hospital Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

* How she became involved: "As a social worker, I saw a need for parents to have a place to stay. I saw moms coming from great distances with no place to sleep or bathe, moms who had just had Caesarean sections sleeping on the floor. Parents would sleep in chairs or in sleeping bags on the floor because they were afraid to leave their children. When the Ronald McDonald House was being built, I felt I needed to help."

* Volunteer positions: Board member, works shift in Family Room, member of the scholarship and programs committees, works all fundraisers.

* Memorable moment: "There have been too many because all the families are special."