“Its been a great response so far and we are very grateful but we don’t have nearly enough - we will need to have 200 people on our roster for the house to run effectively,” Orange’s Ronald McDonald House executive officer Rebecca Walsh said.

Ms Walsh said a challenging task lies ahead in the coming weeks to complete the paperwork for those who have already volunteered, gather more volunteers and to host induction sessions.

“There are so many ways people can help out at the house with a range of jobs that will lighten the load for families,” she said.

This includes administrative duties, cleaning, cooking, the dinner program, and helping out with the gardening at the house.

“We also need overnight volunteers as families will be coming into the house in the middle of the night after their child has been brought to Orange,” Ms Walsh said.

“Volunteers will be absolutely crucial to the running of the house and we have a challenge on our hands getting everything in place in the next few weeks,” she said.

With fundraising still a priority for the completion of the house, Ms Walsh said anyone in the community who is prepared to step up and help with future fundraising activities will be made most welcome.

Within the next week Ronald McDonald House   learning program co-ordinator Alison Wilkins hopes to be set up in her office at the house in Orange where she will co-ordinate learning programs for children coming into the house and maintain the program with the 60 children she is already assisting from the Blue Mountains. 

“I’m just waiting on the internet connection and we will be set to go.

“For eight years I’ve been working from my office at home, and I’ve watched the project gather momentum - its a very exciting time,” she said.

If you would like to register as a volunteer call Ms Walsh on 0418 681 352.

janice.harris@fairfaxmedia.com.au

THERE is still a long list of items to be sourced for donation for Orange’s Ronald McDonald House in readiness for the first families to arrive in a few weeks’ time.

Orange Ronald McDonald House, executive officer Rebecca Walsh, said she is hoping people will come forward and donate items that will complete the house set up.

“All the items we need must be new and we still have a way to go,” she said.

“Every time I open a cupboard I think of something else we need like extension cords or brooms,” she said.

Ronald McDonald House Orange has set up a registry in the hope business houses and individuals will come forward and donate items.

This includes everything from kitchen items including saucepans through to larger items such as a garden shed with all the appropriate gardening implements needed such as a mower, whipper snipper, blower, rakes, shovels and more.

Items also needed for the house include nine portable cots, eight high chairs, clothes horses and laundry accessories, ironing boards, pillows, cot sheets, computers and laptops.

Ms Walsh said emergency toiletry packs would be greatly appreciated as well.

“People will often arrive at the house in what they’re standing up in because their child has been rushed to Orange,” she said.

Ms Walsh said Ronald McDonald House Orange is also in need of a regular commitment from business owners to provide milk, bread, eggs and dry goods on an ongoing basis.

“We will also need a regular commitment for supply of tea and coffee, meat products, canned foods and fruit and vegetables,” she said.

If you think you, your workplace or community organisation can donate items from the registry call Ms Walsh on 0418 681 352.