Sinclair’s Young Scholars Program is collecting donations for the Ronald McDonald House.
The Ronald McDonald House offers the families of ill children a place to stay while their children are staying in the hospital. While the organization suggests that families make a $15 donation for each night they stay, it states that they are always welcome, even if they cannot donate.
The Young Scholars are collecting items that are found on the Ronald McDonald House’s wishlist for its families. While there are a variety of products, they are focusing on small packaged items that people can easily grab and take with them as they walk out the door.
“We put down things like granola bars, because those are things that they can grab and go,” said Young Scholars Coordinator, Diana Peterson. “If everybody could focus on the microwave popcorn, packs of hot chocolate, just things that are individual that they can grab…that [would be] really helpful. We really want to focus on getting them a nice quantity of these items to help out.”
The Young Scholars program is under Sinclair’s Student Enrichment Programs. It is open to students in ninth-12th grades that live in Montgomery County. They are required to be first-generation college students and have at least a 2.5 cumulative GPA. The students earn points for their volunteer acts. Once they graduate from the Young Scholars program, they are eligible for the Taylor Scholarship through Sinclair.
The program has what they call the “5 C’s of college readiness” that helps them earn their points. These include:
- College Preparation
- Career Exploration,
- Cultural Enrichment,
- Character/Leadership Development
- Community Involvement
The Ronald McDonald House effort will earn them Community Involvement points. It will be part of what they call their “Day of Discovery.”
“Each year we have a program called ‘A Day of Discovery,’ where students get the chance to volunteer at different organizations throughout the community,” said Peterson. “They can…make sure that they’re involved with what’s going on in our community and making a difference.”
The Young Scholars typically work with the Ronald McDonald House twice a year, during their Day of Discovery time and Holiday Time.
“The Ronald McDonald House has been the one we’ve been doing stuff with all the time,” said the Young Scholars Program Specialist, Melissa Ward. “We want to keep that connection.”
This will be the Young Scholars’ seventh year working with the Ronald McDonald House. They made 3D snowflakes for the families this past year and door decorations the year before. This is the first time they have gathered donations for Ronald McDonald House.
“We’re definitely always going to do something for the Ronald McDonald House,” said Peterson. “It’s very important work that they’re doing there. Since we are not able to go there this year, we want to help to provide donations that the families need while they’re…staying long-term.”
Those interested can drop off donations anytime until March 19 from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. No appointment or call ahead is required. People can easily pull up to the front of the building and drop their donations off. The donation box is located in the lobby of Building 19 and can be seen through the window.
If needed, Sinclair employees can donate outside of the normal hours. They can call the Sinclair Police so that they can be let in to drop off their donations.
Building 19 is located separately on Wilkinson Street near Sinclair’s police academy. They can Fifth Street to Ludlow Street and then go around Sixth Street to get there.
The Young Scholars are also considering adding a donation box near Sinclair’s advising area.
The Young Scholars would also like the various Sinclair departments to know that if they wish to gather donations for their entire department, they can send an email to young.scholars@sinclair.edu and the Young Scholars will come pick them up.
After being packaged up, all of the donations will be delivered to the Ronald McDonald House by Young Scholars staff on March 27.
While the high school students will not participate in the packaging, they will have another opportunity to serve the community. Over March 27 and 28, the Young Scholars can perform two hours of volunteer work, such as cleaning, around their areas to earn their points. They will be given a poster and a Young Scholars sticker so that they can create a sign that lets people know who performed the work. They will also take before and after pictures.
Over the years, the Young Scholars have worked with various organizations, including United Rehabilitation Services and 4 Paws for Ability. They helped to clean up Woodland’s Cemetery and Carillon Park. They sorted through donated clothes for Hannah’s Treasure Chest and gave care to dogs through the Humane Society. The Young Scholars also helped the Trotwood Library with packing up books when it changed locations. They assisted the elderly by going to a nursing home and serving dinners. Those part of the Young Scholars will also perform random acts of kindness, which they can log in with the program.
The Young Scholars also made bracelets to send into Operation Gratitude, a military organization, so that they could be given to members of the military.
“Even though the students earn…community involvement points, that’s really not what encourages them to participate,” said Peterson. “I believe that they really are good-hearted young people and it really is a pleasure to work with them and to see how caring they are. We’re just really trying to expose them to this lifestyle and most of them love it and they have a good time when they’re serving. We’re proud of them.”
Those interested in joining the Young Scholars can register online through their page on Sinclair’s website.
Rebekah Davidson
Intern