Lanoka Harbor School Fills Charity House with Love [PHOTOS]

Third grade classes as the Lanoka Harbor School joined forces to raise and donate approximately $500 worth of supplies and donations to the Ronald McDonald House in Long Branch, NJ on Sunday, March 4.

“We do this to foster a sense of community in our students and to hopefully instill in them a sense of compassion and concern for those less fortunate,” teacher Kathy Cook said.

Teachers Karen Martenak, David Leonard, Amy Orlick, Jennifer Verge, Diane Bauernhuber and Cook banned together to raise the funds. This group works together each year during the month of February to raise funds for a local charity.

In the past, the teachers have helped charities such as Dottie’s House and Oceans of Love. This year they selected Ronald McDonald House Charities with the theme of “Help Fill Our House With Love.”

Ronald McDonald House Charities, which relies heavily on donations, provides a “home away from home” for families of seriously ill children requiring long-term hospitalization. There are nearly 300 homes in 30 countries worldwide.

Cook has reaped the benefits of the charity first hand after her niece became critically ill due to complications from pneumonia. If it wasn’t for the homes in Philadelphia and New Brunswick, her niece’s parents would have had to travel back and forth daily or incur additional expenses, she said.

To give her brother and sister-in-law a “much needed break,” Cook spent an evening in the Philadelphia House.

“I was overwhelmed with emotion by the families I saw there just trying to keep it together for not only their seriously ill child, but for their other children as well,” she said. “As a school teacher working with children every day, it was hard not to be affected by what I saw…They offer a welcoming supportive environment for families during a time of uncertainty and stress.”

Cook contacted the Ronald McDonald House in Long Branch to find out what supplies were needed. The wish list included towels, snacks and gift cards to stores such as Shop Rite, Home Depot, and Babies “R” Us, she said.

Letters were sent out to families of Lanoka Harbor School students, Cook said.

“As usual, Lanoka Harbor School students, their families, and our own staff members were extremely generous,” Cook said.