Santa’s elves brought plenty of smiles to small faces as they delivered a hefty sack of toys to The Ronald McDonald House of New Orleans. New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center employees donated money via payroll deductions to raise funds to buy toys and supplies for the young patients who are spending their Christmas in a hospital setting as they battle various illnesses, as well as toys for their siblings, and gift cards and toiletry packs for the parents. The group also purchased items for the Ronald McDonald House, such as snacks, sheet sets, pillows, and flashlights.
Convention Center employees Kelli Zohar-Davis, Erin Oubre, Clair Lorell, Megan Clay, and Mildred Simon used their personal PTO hours to shop for toys at various local stores on Friday, December 
15. The following week, on Tuesday, December 18, employees Nicole Newton, Maurice Jackson, Erik Gonzalez, Kelli Zohar-Davis, Cassie Jones, Megan Clay, Matthew Fryou, and AJ McCorkle distributed the toys and gifts to the families who reside at the Ronald McDonald House during treatment. Centerplate, the Convention Center’s exclusive food and beverage provider, generously donated 60 boxed lunches containing sandwiches, chips and fruit, plus cookies for a decorating activity.
“We are so grateful to the Convention Center employees who donated, shopped for, and delivered gifts and meals to the families staying in the House. It’s heartwarming to know that people care and took the time to make Christmas special for everyone,” said Brooke Stewart, Programs and Volunteer Coordinator Ronald McDonald House Charities of South Louisiana.
The Convention Center’s staff chose The Ronald McDonald House of New Orleans because of the organization’s commitment to improving the quality of life for families of seriously ill children.
The mission of the Ronald McDonald House Charities of South Louisiana is to provide a “home-away-from-home” to families of seriously ill children and to provide programs that give comfort, compassion, and care to children and their families. Parents with critically ill children are invited to bring their immediate family to stay in the Ronald McDonald House, free of charge, while their sick child receives treatment. The house provides a safe, homey place to stay, laundry facilities, and meals/snacks for the residents so that families don’t have to incur additional expenses and be separated during an already stressful time.
