Helping Hands Warm Hearts

“[To live in] a world where all children have access to medical care, and their families are supported and actively involved in their children's care.” This is the vision that drives the Ronald Mc Donald’s House Charity. With children and their wellbeing a core part of AuPairCare’s mission, two Area Directors went above and beyond with their au pairs when the group volunteered over at their local Ronald McDonald House within the Falls Church area in Virginia. This facility provides a welcoming and safe place for families to call home during hard medical times when their little ones are under intense medical care. The Area Directors Alesia and Susan connected with the organization’s message and knew that this would be a great way for their au pairs to give back to the community in honor of J-Day, a day that promotes cultural exchange.

Following the motto of “Eat, Play, and Give”, Susan and Alesia brought nine of their au pairs from Arlington, Virginia to the Ronald McDonald House with the goal of making this home just a little bit happier. With beautiful flowers donated by the local Alexandria Trader Joes and food donated by the AuPairCare, the whole group was able to whip up a warm and hearty lunch for the families staying at the House; serving creamy chicken alfredo, mouthwatering shrimp pesto pasta, and a bowl of crisp Caesar salad. The girls then decorated the living room and other common areas with the flower bouquets to brighten up the atmosphere.

This was an eye-opening experience for many of the girls as they witnessed the smiles and thankful faces of the eight families they served. Aline, an au pair from Brazil, stated:

I am grateful we had the chance to bring some comfort to the families in need. It means a lot to have a place to stay and a healthy meal ready to eat after spending a whole day at the hospital. For us, it was something so simple, but for them, it made a big difference.

Au pair Karina from Mexico agreed, saying,

For me, this was a very nice experience! As an au pair, not only do I have to dedicate myself to the children I care for, but I also strive to understand different cultural experiences. I was very happy to learn that there are these types of institutions that provide support to those who need it. I hope that this is the first of many other altruistic activities we do as a cluster and hope that others realize au pairs not only care about children but the whole world.

At the end of the event, the girls felt a kinship towards the families and a cornerstone memory of their time in the United States.

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