FFA chapter officers give back

National FFA week gives FFA members a chance to educate the public about agriculture. During the week, chapters host teacher appreciation breakfasts, speak to the public about agriculture, volunteer for community service projects and more.

To celebrate the end of National FFA week on Friday, Feb. 22, the Lind- Ritzville FFA Chapter officer team traveled up to Spokane to deliver the items that were collected for the Ronald McDonald House and cook a breakfast for its residents. After just two weeks of collecting, we were able to bring over 700 donated items to the Ronald McDonald House.

The FFA chapter decided to participate in this charitable event because of a personal connection with one of our advisors. Just last year, Andy Williams and his family stayed in the Ronald McDonald House while their son, Landon, was in the hospital. We decided that we wanted to give back to the organization, which gave so much support to our advisor.

The Ronald McDonald House program provides a “home-away-from-home” for families so they can stay close by their hospitalized child at little or no cost. The houses are built on the simple idea that nothing else should matter when a family is focused on healing their child – not where they can afford to stay, where they will get their next meal or where they will lay their head at night to rest. They believe that when a child is hospitalized, the love and support of family is as powerful as the strongest medicine prescribed.

As the officers arrived, we went right to work and started cooking breakfast for the families. We served biscuits and gravy, scrambled eggs, and fruit. We also had several activities for the kids to participate in including coloring, and the Hedbanz game, which was a huge hit amongst the kids. After we finished serving breakfast we were given the privilege to tour the house, and not only see what each room looked like, but how the Ronald McDonald House helps families in need.

An observation from one of our co-presidents, and it was much agreed from the rest of the officers, was that our time at the Ronald McDonald House showed us that we should appreciate everything that we have, because it can be taken away so easily.

There was one child in particular that seemed to have touched each and every one of the officer’s hearts. His name was David and he has been undergoing chemotherapy since Oct. 8, 2012. Despite the circumstances, at just seven years old David was joyful, talkative, full of life and one of the happiest kids we’ve had the pleasure of knowing.

The officer team quickly decided that we would like to get involved with the Ronald McDonald House again soon. This is part of the reason we have decided to participate in the pop tab fundraiser. There will be a house-shaped box placed in Lind-Ritzville High School where we will collect pop tabs to later donate to the Ronald McDonald House. Although it may not seem like much, the pop tab fundraiser raises approximately $30,000 a year and is a very easy way to help families in need.

The FFA chapter would like to thank the businesses that allowed us to keep a donation box at their place of business and everyone who contributed to our cause.

We would also like to encourage people to keep giving back by participating in the pop tab fundraiser.