The Importance of giving back to our community

By: Sophie Asher, Multimedia Director  

Have you ever wanted to give back to the Buffalo community but weren’t sure where to start? I highly recommend getting involved with the Meal Makers program at the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Western New York!

The Ronald McDonald House serves as a “home away from home” for families whose children are receiving medical treatment at local hospitals. It offers them a comfortable place to stay at little to no cost. They provide amenities like bedrooms, laundry facilities and kitchens – where the Meal Makers program comes into play.

After a long day at the hospital, nothing means more to these families than coming back to a warm, home-cooked meal, which is why the Meal Makers Program is so meaningful. Gather a group of at least three to five people and head to the Ronald McDonald House kitchen to prepare a plate together!

I first learned about the Meal Makers program through my involvement in Canisius’ sorority, Phi Sigma Sigma. Philanthropy and community service are central to Phi Sig’s mission, so when I attended my first Meal Makers event last semester, I thoroughly enjoyed the experience. When I became Phi Sig’s Philanthropy Chair this semester, I knew we had to return! 

We decided to prepare a full meal of chicken and rice casserole, a side salad and some impromptu chocolate chip cookies. As someone who openly admits to having zero cooking experience, the task seemed a bit daunting, but I knew I could execute it for the cause. I set out to Walmart to look for the ingredients and to my surprise, found everything we needed (side note: am I the only one who had never heard of “cream of celery” before? Just me? Okay). I was luckily surrounded by a group of women who knew what they were doing in the kitchen, and the dishes came out beautifully! 

Making the meal was not only a great way to give back to a purposeful initiative, but was a super fun time! There’s nothing better than doing something good for others alongside people you genuinely enjoy being around. So next time you’re looking for a WNY volunteer opportunity, you know where to look!

Phi Sigma Sigma members volunteering at the Ronald McDonald House via Ava Wohlleber