Chaminade graduates visited the Ronald McDonald House in New Hyde Park Sunday, Sept. 9 to prepare a meal for families of hospitalized children.
Community service volunteers of the Chaminade Alumni Association visit the residence several times each year. Sheltering as many as 80 people at a time, the Ronald McDonald House keeps families close while a child is hospitalized for a critical illness or injury. Families may travel a great distance for medical care – an added hardship to an already traumatic situation.
Community service projects of the Chaminade Alumni Association began six years ago with a vision from Jim Mercadante '79. Alumni partnered with Town Meat Market in Garden City, owned by Matthew and Kim Griffith, which donated much of the food Chaminade alumni prepared for families who currently call the residence home.
"The donation from Town Meat Market was a critical key to our most recent event," Mercadante said. "We ask for a small donation from all alumni participants to cover the cost of purchasing meal ingredients. However, Matt's donation enabled us to go beyond our budget and provide a top-shelf meal for these families."
Chaminade's alumni service initiatives were recently recognized by Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Rockville Centre. In May, the Alumni Association received the organization's Volunteer Service Award for dedicated service to people in need in the diocese. Chaminade alumni have also volunteered in Catholic Charities residences, repaired local homes damaged by Superstorm Sandy, and assisted in the ministry of the Sisters of Life.The Long Island Ronald McDonald House has helped nearly 30,000 families since it opened in 1986.
