Donation drop-off bins for Ronald McDonald House in Oxford County

Emily Stewart, Echo Correspondent

Drop-off locations across Southwestern Ontario, including Oxford County, are set up to collect donations for families staying at Ronald McDonald House.

Sheila Weir of Thamesford, along with husband Greg, are collecting donations for the charity in a bin on their front porch at 198 Stanley St. N from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Bins are also set up in Ingersoll at the Rose and Daffodil Bakery and Second Look Consignment, as well as Aylmer’s Home Hardware, Dorchester’s Home Hardware and For the Look Salon and Spa, and London’s Sutton Group Preferred Realty.

Gifts like card games, toiletries, gift cards, make up kits, water bottles, journals, and PJs for teens and adults will be accepted. Weir put out a call on social media and had six businesses ready to contribute, and many eager to donate.

"Donations are slowly coming in. There's a lot of people who are commenting or wanting to donate, so it's just a matter of getting them in,” she said.

The Ronald McDonald House has a Holiday Land set up in their basement area, where parents can pick out gifts for their kids and for each other at no cost to the families.

"It takes the stress off of everyone and they can focus on what's truly important, which is their kids in the hospital or if their child is an outpatient but can't go far from the hospital, then they can stay at the house as well,” Weir explained.

As there are several stresses that come with having a child in the hospital without the added stress that comes with preparing for the holidays, Weir said the Ronald McDonald House makes the process easier for the parents.

"They spend the majority of their time at the hospital and when you're doing that, when you come back to the house, you're exhausted. You don't want to go out shopping. You don't want to have to worry about that. To be able to go and pick stuff out that your kids are going to like. You don't have to worry about going to the mall and getting sick by being around people and it’s just easier. It's right there, and you don't have to do any of the wrapping, the staff handle all of that and the volunteers."

In addition to gifts, non-perishable snacks like gummies and granola bars are also accepted to ensure the families have something to munch on during the visit.

"A lot of times, parents don't want to leave the bedside so it's harder for them to get those meals in, so those are just as important as the gifts,” Weir said.

Donations will be accepted until Dec. 17. For more information, contact Weir either by phone (519-808-9171) or via email (sheilaweir@icloud.com).

To purchase off the Amazon Wish List online created by the Ronald McDonald House Southwestern Ontario, visit https://tinyurl.com/rmcswo-wishlist.