POWERGRAMS

14 in Mobile every quarter, fixing a meal for the families who stay there." Members cook healthy dinners that an entire family is sure to enjoy. It's not unusual for Sullivan to boil a chicken at night so that she can serve fresh chicken salad for families the next day at Ronald McDonald House. "The best part of it is, being there becomes so personal," Sullivan said. "A lot of us will cook and then eat with the families. It's so rewarding to sit with them; they're so grateful." Meals are important to the families who often must rush back and forth between the hospital and the House, in between visiting their child and their children's medical treatments. "That's when the last thing families think about is eating," Sullivan said. "This takes a big burden off them. We've prayed with them, shared stories and tears." Barry APSO to the rescue Plant Barry APSO members try to make the stay for Ronald McDonald House residents a little like being at home. They've provided Little Debbie snacks that are popular with kids. Like Mobile APSO's cooking team, the Barry volunteers serve a quarterly dinner. "We used to fix lunch, but we changed to dinner a year ago, figuring that with the kids in the hospital, we can do dinner and see the families," said Barry APSO President Melanie Robins. "We go and love on the kids, play with them and fellowship with the families. They share their stories with us." Barry APSO's Joe Bass is both an instrument and controls technician and a locally renowned cook who takes part in gumbo and chili cook-offs, and is "unofficial chef " for Ronald McDonald House, Robins said. "We had a family who had been there at Ronald McDonald House before, and the lady knew Joe by name!" Robins exclaimed. "She requested his banana pudding. That shows you how good it is." Special dietary requirements and holidays don't ruffle APSO's cooks. Barry members last cooked during Lent. Knowing some families might have food restrictions, Barry's group cooked two separate meals. Barry, Mobile and Magic City APSO chapters collect the pull tabs from cans, filling miniature versions of the Ronald McDonald House. "We have recycling stations here at the plant, and keep the aluminum tabs to recycle them," said Robins, an APSO member for seven years. "We turn them in to Ronald McDonald House each quarter and they earn money for it." Robins' mission is heartfelt. Her now-3-year-old son carries the gene for cystic fibrosis, a progressive genetic disease that causes persistent lung infections and, over time, limits the ability to breathe. Fortunately Robins' son doesn't exhibit the illness. Honoring an ongoing commitment Paul Giardina, executive director of Ronald McDonald House, said his team is thankful for the Mobile and Barry APSO chapters. "It's a really big help," Giardina said. "They come in, bring all of the ingredients, cook the food and serve it, then clean it up. We have to have at least one meal a day for families. It makes a really big difference." Around May 2016, Giardina said, the Mobile APSO members noticed that the home's kitchen could use some new cutting boards and utensils. New utensils soon appeared when the group came to prepare a meal. Knowing they can depend on APSO chapters is a huge relief for the management of Ronald McDonald House. "It helps us in planning because we know that two meals are covered," Giardina said. "We know that two dates are always taken. APSO has been helping us for years, and we consider them part of our family." That's just how Robins and fellow APSO members feel about the Ronald McDonald team and families. "I love doing charity work and giving back," Robins said. "I want to bring some kind of joy to these families. For Ronald McDonald House, that means so much to me being able to help someone. "I look back at my own situation and understand what some other families are going through. I want to help, even if it's just a meal." Barry APSO's Shelly Sweet (left), Melanie Robins and Amanda Lofton at work.

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