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VOLUNTEERS are the heart and soul of Ronald McDonald House Orange.
These invaluable helpers have worked around the clock since April 2015, contributing approximately 30,550 hours to help keep the doors open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
There are around 143 volunteers on their books, and they come from all walks of life including retired professionals, tradesmen and administration workers.
Apart from the executive officer Rebecca Walsh and house manager Kellie Hughes, the house is staffed entirely by volunteers on a day-to-day basis.
“Our volunteers contribute anything from a couple of hours a months, to regular shifts every week,” Ms Walsh said.
“But because the need is so great, we would love to see these numbers grow and encourage anyone in the community who feels they may contribute, to contact us.”
There are a range of duties that need to be performed, so there’s bound to be a way in which most people can lend a hand.
“Our volunteers carry out general cleaning, room maintenance and checking, administrative tasks and everything associated with keeping our doors open for families,” Ms Walsh said.
“Some volunteers work overnight shifts in order to settle in families who have a child or young person who is transferred to Orange Health Service in the middle of the night.”
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As well as the dedicated band of volunteers who are on duty at the house, other volunteers contribute by knitting items such as hats, mittens, baby clothes, toys and teddy bears for the families who are guests at the house.
Others give their time to help organise the ball or work on the events committee or governing board of RMH Orange.
“We recognise many people are not in a position to volunteer because they work full-time, but we also appreciate those generous people who rally their colleagues, community groups or organisations to provide donated items for the house or cash donations,” Ms Walsh said.
“We are extremely grateful to our volunteers who provide a ‘home away from home’ for families from such a wide area of the state.
“Their amazing contribution means that at any hour of the day or night families can find a restful haven close to their child at the Orange Health Service free of charge.
“We couldn’t achieve what we do without the invaluable contribution of volunteers.”
New volunteers are trained and paired with an experienced volunteer for their first few shifts. If you would like to become a volunteer, call the house on 6363 1960. Anyone interested in volunteering at the house is required to undergo a Working With Children check.