Heart Beats - March 2022

Heart

BEATS MARCH 2022

Sertoma

GRIN IRON

CLASSIC June 3rd

Share A Heart The 29th Annual Share a Heart numbers are in, and we are excited to announce another recordbreaking year! Over $123,600 worth of hearts were adopted at our local McDonald’s of the Ozarks locations!

We are so grateful to our sponsors and supporters for their continued generosity and determination to continue spreading the love, comfort and hope our Ronald McDonald House programs provide.

Thanks to Great Southern Bank, four $250 MasterCard Gift Cards were awarded to randomly selected RMHC supporters who “shared their heart” on social media by posting PRESENTING SPONSOR

LEADERSHIP SPONSORS

selfies using #forRMHCozarks.

Congratulations to 2022 Share a Heart Campaign winners Lisa Hilbrich, Stephanie Brown, David Ray and Haley Paget.

The 2022 Share A Heart Campaign is presented by McDonald’s of the Ozarks, and continues to thrive with support from Leadership Sponsors, Great Southern Bank and KY3; and Supporting Sponsors, Mid-Am Metal Forming and Colorgraphic Printing.

Visit ShareAHeart.org to view this year’s Family Profiles and see where our families come from on our Share a Heart Map. SUPPORTING SPONSORS

COLORGRAPHIC PRINTING incorporated

Get ready to celebrate an ALL-STAR weekend as RMHC of the Ozarks and the Heart of the Ozarks Sertoma Club host an event benefitting the Tooth Truck and featuring Southwest Missouri’s graduated senior all-stars. We’re thrilled to report the 21st Annual Sertoma GRIN IRON CLASSIC AllStar High School Football Game will take place IN PERSON at Parkview High School in Springfield on June 3, 2022. We sure did miss the GIC action during the last two years due to COVID-19.

We’d like to extend an extra special thank-you to Mediacom for continually supporting the Tooth Truck and helping us acknowledge the accomplishments of the graduated seniors chosen for our East and West GIC teams. The game will once again be recorded and broadcast on the Mediacom website and select times on cable.

Volunteers are needed and we’d love for YOU to join us.

Sign-up sheets are available at both Houses, on the Tooth Truck, or by contacting Ezra Wood at ezra.wood@RMHCozarks.org or at 417-820-0764.

Bonnie’s Corner

Bonnie Keller, President & CEO It was amazing to see so many of our treasured volunteers at the Winter Volunteer Parade! (See photos in this newsletter.) Our hearts are instantly full when we see your faces. As we slowly bring volunteers back to the Houses and Tooth Truck, we realize even more what a long two years it has been without your inspirational expertise, time, and talents every day. The staff members have done our best to keep your legacies alive, mirroring your caring hearts and high standards. If you are interested in a return to volunteering, contact Larry Chainey at the Cox House, Ezra Wood at the Mercy House, or Mindy Muñoz on the Tooth Truck. They can provide info on open shifts and guidelines for returning. In the meantime, please know you are always on our minds.

Media Spotlight When raising awareness for our fundraising events, we often turn to our local media outlets to help spread the word across our community. Their willingness to share our mission means an incredible amount to our organization. From Springfield to Harrison, and Salem to Monett, several local media outlets featured our “Share a Heart” campaign on television, radio, billboards and in their local print and online newspapers, showcasing our annual campaign this year. A special thank you to Leadership Sponsor KY3 for producing and airing our “Share a Heart” Public Service Announcement, as well as featuring a segment on The Place. We are so appreciative of the love and support shown to our Ronald McDonald House programs throughout the campaign!

Lifepoints

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Did you know when you give blood, you are not only saving lives, but you can help our families at the Ronald McDonald Houses at the same time? When you sign up for the LifePoints program at Community Blood Center of the Ozarks, you receive points for each blood or apheresis donation you make during the year. Those points can be redeemed in many ways, including a donation made to Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Ozarks! Since our partnership with CBCO began, nearly $11,000 has been donated to help our families.

There is currently a critical need for all blood types, so visit cbco.org to schedule your donation today!

For more information about LifePoints, to create a donor profile and donate your points, please visit www.cbco.org/ lifepoints-lift/

Price Cutter Charity Championship Mark your calendars for the 33rd annual Korn Ferry Tour Price Cutter Charity Championship presented by Dr Pepper, July 21-24 at Highland Springs Country Club.

Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Ozarks has been a beneficiary since the inception of this event in 1990, which has provided nearly $1.4 million in support to our organization alone. More than half of the annual funding we receive through this event is from Sweepstakes Tickets, which will be on sale soon! Check your mail, email and the next edition of Heart Beats for more details.

House Volunteer Spotlight Sandy Davis has been volunteering with the Ronald McDonald House near Cox since June of 2011. After just one year of volunteering, Sandy was recognized at the Annual Volunteer Dinner with the Barbara L. Appleby Award for Excellence in Volunteerism. More than 1,750 volunteer hours later, she is still going strong and more dedicated than ever!

Let’s learn a little more about Sandy…

What is your favorite thing to do at the House?

My favorite thing to do in the House is anything that directly helps a family. I love connecting with them. As far as jobs around the House, I just do what’s asked.

Folding the laundry and organizing the linen closets leaves a feeling of satisfaction in knowing everything is in its place.

What do you enjoy in your free time?

Spending time with my grandchildren, and a great-grandchild who will be coming this summer! I love to read, bake, and volunteer.

How did you learn about the Ronald McDonald House?

My son, Joey, worked at McDonald’s and was encouraged by his owner/operator Donna Powers to get involved. I was

retired and looking for more volunteer opportunities to fill my time, so I called to get started.

Do you have any favorite memories of your time in the House?

Helping a new mother of triplets, I held and calmed the babies so the mother could finally have a few minutes to care for herself. I was able to calm all three to sleep so the mother was able to get some rest. She has always stuck with me!

What do you enjoy most about volunteering with our organization?

I love having the RMHC sticker on my car, when people ask, I get to explain what we do to help families and ease the stress of what they’re going through. I am impressed with the dedication of the staff as well.

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From The

Staff Birthdays January 1 Kaden Sumter Jamie Phariss January 2 Amy Grubaugh January 6 Lucy Weitzel January 10 Katie Serangeli January 12 Tim Schmelz January 14 Evan Mason January 15 Kim Stagner January 17 Brenda Rosebrough January 19 Rebekkah Wall January 20 Becky Gillham Nancy Clark January 23 Lynelle Peck January 25 Cheryl Douglas Kim Booth

Heart of the House House Near Cox South Ann Adams Karis Agnew Brooklynn Anderson Andrew Bandelow Hannah Braden Nadean Burnett John Carr Terri Carr Nancy Clark Tammi Davis Kathy Dennis Lynelle Dock-Peck Cheryl Douglas Blake Dowdy Judy Duncan Angela Fairchild Clydene Freeman Amanda Fronzaglia Becky Gillham Shawn Gott Ashley Grady Amy Grubaugh

Dorothy Harlan Laura Harrelson Aston Heinrichs Kaya Heinrichs Olivia Heinrichs Corine Isenhower Lisa James Laura Johnson Raegan Johnston Clayton Keller Levi Kemp Caleb Kerr Becky Lang Dustin Long Peyton Long Shawn Lowery Evan Mason Eileen Meinsen Larry Meinsen Sandy Morris Roberta Osborn Karla Peck

LeRoy Peck Gretta Phillips Lerris Pierce Aidan Plank Kay Prost Beka Razor Rebecca Reser Abigail Richardson Cliff Ricketts Jan Ricketts Brenda Rosebrough Robin Rueter Timothy Schmelz Anne Schubert Debbie Slocum Randy Slocum T.J. Slocum Mary Smith Gail Sours Grace Stagner Kim Stagner Keith Steenbergen

Pamela Stout Kaden Sumter Ava Uzzell Sondra Uzzell Tristen Uzzell Janet VanGorkom Abigail Weitzel Lucy Weitzel Joanna Weitzel Scott Weitzel Travis Weitzel James Winstead Ryan Winstead Kelly Wirtz Meghan Zengel Sydney Zupan

House At Mercy Kids Anna Berry Stephanie Bube Katherine Bunch April Carmichael David Carmichael Katy Chambers Jerrica Conrad Jennie Crabbe Glory Ehie Sandy Emberton Alexis Gaono Terry Greer Ann Griesemer Shirley Hall

Renae Harrison Brenda Havens Kylee Heishman Thomas Heye Jenni Jacka Leah Jackson Trot Kinser Ami Le Hannah Le Brady Marshall Kathy Marshall Kassie Medina Madison Mickan Jianna Mills

Kiera Mills Krista Mills Rebekah Mitts Marel Morris Jordan Newman Erin Norris Caitlyn Norris Ellie Norris Tracie Nicholson Kate Okland Olivia Parks Jamie Phariss Payton Polino Cathy Sanchez

Linda Schultz Maricielo SchwartzLeon Lauren Stockam Breanna Sundet Kayla Swearengin Madeline Urhahn Will Vance Kenzie Voyles Hanna Wilken Judy Zorn

January 26 Kevin Rash

RMHC Staff Heart Beats is published monthly or bi-monthly for volunteers of Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Ozarks and The Tooth Truck, Inc. ©2022 RMHC The following trademarks used herein are owned by McDonald’s Corporation and its affiliates and are used under license: Ronald McDonald House Charities, Ronald McDonald House Charities logo, Ronald McDonald House, Ronald McDonald Care Mobile, RMHC, Keeping Families Close.

The Tooth Truck name and logo are owned by The Tooth Truck, Inc.

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President & CEO Bonnie Keller

RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE NEAR COX SOUTH

RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE AT MERCY KIDS

Vice President Debbie Kinser

Program Manager Larry Chainey

Program Manager Ezra Wood

Tooth Truck Program Director Mindy Muñoz

Associate Program Manager Shannon Richards

Family Care Managers Austin Camplejohn Jacob Golden Julie Holt Savannah Keller Jack Osborn

Project Manager Amber Price Development Assistant Kim Booth Development Coordinator Katie Serangeli

Family Care Managers Laura Benowitz Jennifer Grooms Grace Richter Aida Stanley

Family Dinner

Birthdays (continued) January 27 TJ Slocum

Spotlight

February 1 Amanda Fronzaglia

Jordan Heinz State Farm

February 11 Scott Weitzel Austin Camplejohn

February 9 Angie Patrick

Let’s learn a little bit more about Jordan Heinz State Farm.

February 14 Karen Taylor Laura Winstead

How long have you been providing dinners?

I believe we started providing dinners in August or September of 2019.

How did you get involved with the Family Dinner Program?

We stayed for two weeks in a RMH in Columbus, OH while our son was undergoing treatments, and we experienced firsthand how wonderful it is to have a meal available in the midst of so much else going on. From there, I mentioned it to my staff, and they were all on board with it. They are such wonderful people and get so much joy from participating in the program.

February 19 Ann Griesemer

What is your favorite thing about serving a meal at the Ronald McDonald House?

Just knowing that we might be helping have a positive impact on someone’s day.

What would you say to anyone considering volunteering with the Family Dinner Program?

Give it a try. It’s such a help to families in need and certainly is rewarding to know you’ve helped someone.

February 21 Jennifer Grooms March 2 Karla Peck March 4 Shannon Richards March 5 Debbie Williams March 6 Laura Robinson March 9 Becky Reser Glory Ehie

Dinner Groups!

March 11 Ann Vincel Aston Heinrichs

RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE NEAR COX SOUTH

March 12 Jennie Crabbe

Cancer Research of the Ozarks Cerner Si3 Church of Jesus Christ of LDS Chesterfield CNH Reman Covey Family Cox Pediatrics Dru & Friends Fremont Elementary Jeremy Hill Julie Pappenfort

Knights of Columbus- Ozark #10200 Kropf Family Larson Heating, Air & Plumbing Lawrence County Retired Teachers Little Caesars Pizza Oak Grove Assembly of God Ozark South Teachers Pam Stout Parkcrest Baptist Church Pyatt Dental RMHC Board of Directors

Rotary Club-Downtown SBU Mercy College of Nursing Stepan Yosup Team Janet The Girlfriends Union Hill Church of Christ

OPEN DINNER DATES:

March 30, 31 April: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 9, 15, 17, 19, 22, 23, 26, 28, 29, 30

March 14 Travis Weitzel March 15 Tyler Cockrum March 19 Payton Polino March 25 Kathy Marshall

RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE AT MERCY KIDS East Sunshine Church of Christ Covey Family Jordan Heinz State Farm Arvest Bank Vicki Lawrence & Family Mercy Pre-Surgical Testing Department Sanchez Family SBU Mercy College of Nursing TownePlace Suites Turning Point Church SGC Family Medicine Houlihans Mercy Clinic Finance

Mercy Credentialing & Data Center Kimberly Metcalf Mercy Internal Pharmacy Mercy Centralized Scheduling Hardwick Family Pam Hardwick The Goldens Jennifer Carlson Jerron Baker & Family Little Caesars Rebecca Jeter & Family Lawrence County Retired Teachers Lacy Wood

MSU-Family & Consumer Sciences Education Amy Cable Ruby Vincent Community Financial Credit Union DRG Validation Debra Price Rebecca Tennison & Family David Wood

OPEN DINNER DATES:

March 31 April: 1, 2, 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 16, 17, 21, 24, 25, 28,29, 30

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Around the Houses Mercy House – Fish Tank Upgrade In February, the Mercy House fish tank was upgraded with a new glass top. This upgrade provides a sleek new look to our tank, gives a bright and beautiful topdown angle for our guests to experience the fish, and will help prevent build-up to keep it clean. We’re pretty sure the fish are enjoying it too! We are very thankful to Aquarium Consultants for helping us keep our fish safe and our tanks beautiful and clean.

The Donation Station Over the holidays we were able to serve our families with the creation of Santa’s Workshop. We were able to utilize our currently-closed playroom by filling the space with toy donations, wrapping supplies and most importantly, Christmas cheer! RMH families were encouraged to reserve a time to come by and pick out gifts for their children, free of charge. With the holidays behind us, we are continuing to use this area to serve our guests and take them on mini shopping sprees in our newly nicknamed “Donation Station”.

Our favorite Donation Station moment was when a mother who had visited the station returned from the PICU to thank us. Her 4-year-old son had been hospitalized after suffering a stroke, but he was making enormous progress in his recovery with the help of a wooden walk-along grasshopper toy that he’d named “Sandy”. After just 5 days, he was discharged and ready to return home with his mom and new wooden friend. It was a moment we’ll never forget, and we sent mom home with an extra “Sandy” just in case.

We are also now stocking The Donation Station with gifts for adults as well. We feel this is a tremendous way to steward our resources and provide our families with an extra level of love and care while they stay with us, and that’s what it’s all about!

Dinner Group Recipe

Minestr”ANN”e Soup The House at Mercy Kids recently had the pleasure of welcoming back a handful of volunteers. We have loved having Ann Griesemer back in the House on Wednesdays, and our families have loved it even more because she brings her incredible talent for cooking with her!

Ann has been volunteering at RMHC for 20+ years and specializes in preparing delicious home-cooked (House-cooked, rather) dinners for our families. She prepares each and every meal with love, care, and a little seasoning, and we are thankful to have such a thoughtful and devoted volunteer. Thank you, Ann!

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The following recipe is a Mercy House favorite, Minestr”ANN”e Soup: INGREDIENTS: • 1 pound of hamburger meat (browned) • 3 19 oz cans of minestrone (drained) • 19 oz of water • 2 15 oz cans of western-style beans (undrained) • 1 10 oz can of Rotel with tomatoes and green chilies INSTRUCTIONS: 1. Combine all ingredients in a crockpot and mix.

2. Turn crockpot on low and cook for 8 hours or high for 4 hours.

3. Stir the soup and serve!

Monthly Statistics 2022

Winter Volunteer Parade On Thursday, February 10, Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Ozarks and the Tooth Truck, Inc. celebrated volunteers at a safe distance during our Winter Volunteer Parade. It was so wonderful to see our dedicated volunteers, have a moment to catch up, and provide them with RMHC of the Ozarks blankets and snowflake cookies. We are slowly beginning to welcome back volunteers to the Ronald McDonald Houses and the Tooth Truck and look forward to seeing these familiar faces in the near future. If you were unable to join us at the parade, please reach out to us and make arrangements to pick up your gift at the Cox House. Our special thanks to Springfield Celebrations for providing signage to let our volunteers know exactly how we feel about them.

Favorite Meal in February Every once in a while, if you really listen, you will begin to hear the rumblings of a fantastic Family Dinner. For days, the echo of this legendary meal will reverberate through the House, following you wherever you go. You know you had something special when the leftovers elicit the same response from our Family Care Managers. In the month of February, it was undeniable that one such meal shook us to our core. This meal was Frank ‘N’ Steins catered by Jordan Heinz State Farm on February 8th. From Family Care Manager Jack’s love for the Hotdog Mac n’ Cheese to the dad in Room 110’s obsession with the Taco Mac, this was a Family Dinner that will go down in history.

House Near Cox South STATS Families Served...............17 Nights.................................. 108 Families from Missouri................................ 16 Families from Other States......................... 1 Year to Date........................17 Program to Date.....11,166

House At Mercy Kids STATS Families Served.............. 24 Nights.................................. 198 Families from Missouri................................20 Families from Other States.........................4 Year to Date....................... 24 Program to Date.....3,562

All jokes aside, we are extremely thankful for the incredible support of Jordan Heinz State Farm and our community of generous donors. These meals are a tremendous weight off the shoulders of our families. It provides them with a few minutes to enjoy a delicious meal and take their mind off the stressors of the day, and that is absolutely invaluable.

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WISH LIST

House at Mercy Kids HE Laundry detergent Swiffer liquid Coffee filters Coffee & tea Magic Erasers Labels for food Drink mixes Hygiene products Gallon-size Ziploc bags Laundry baskets Aluminum foil Travel-Size Toothpaste Fabric Softener

Staff Stuff

Happy Anniversary We’d like to wish a happy one-year anniversary to our Development Coordinator, Katie Serangeli!

Katie is originally from the St. Louis area and moved to Springfield for school. She is an Entertainment Management major at Missouri State University. In her free time, she likes to hang out with her pup Nugget, bowl, play pool or give her best shot at Big Buck Hunter.

She’s a huge St. Louis Blues fan and loves gathering with friends and family to watch their games.

Katie has become a cherished member of our events team. She is always willing to lend a hand wherever she can and is full of new and creative ideas. We are so grateful to have welcomed her to our team!

Welcome, Mercy House Program Manager House near Cox South 8-gallon trash bags Individually wrapped breakfast items White queen deep pocket sheets (fitted and flat) White standard-size pillowcases White bath & hand towels White wash cloths Detergent Stamps 8 1/2 x 11 Paper K-cups Large Tupperware containers White Bath Mats

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Ezra Wood joined our RMHC family in January as the new Program Manager for the Ronald McDonald House at Mercy Kids. Ezra grew up in Springfield and now resides in Ozark with his wife of 8 years, 7-year-old son David, and foster daughter Myah. The Woods don’t discriminate when it comes to providing a home to those in need, which is made evident by their pet pigs Matilda and Pumpkin, and their four-legged daughter, Honey Pug. As someone whose family has been directly impacted by Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Ozarks, Ezra believes wholeheartedly in the mission and vision of our organization. When his son, David, spent 11 days at Mercy Hospital in early 2020, including his birthday, the Mercy House team went above and beyond to love, encourage, comfort, and support their family in every way possible. The Wood family has been a featured ‘Share a Heart’ family over the past two years, sharing their incredible experience whenever and wherever they can.

Ezra said coming onboard as the Program Manager at the Mercy House has been ‘nothing short of a dream come true’. He already considers himself to be a ‘lifer’ at RMHC of the Ozarks, and we are so excited to see him grow in his role and further the impact of our organization. Our Program Manager at the Cox House, Larry Chainey, and Ezra will be a great team in leading the care of our Houses moving forward.

Welcome, Aida Stanley

Aida Stanley joined our team of Family Care Managers at the Cox House in February. She will be working overnight on Fridays and Saturdays. Aida is a sophomore at Missouri State University where she is pursuing a degree in English. She is an active member of the Tri-Sigma sorority and her favorite thing to do in Springfield is explore our local coffee shops. Welcome to our team, Aida!

WISH LIST

Welcome, Julie Holt

In January, the Ronald McDonald House at Mercy Kids welcomed Julie Holt to our team of Family Care Managers. Julie has been a phenomenal addition to the RMHC family, and we are so thankful for the attention to detail she brings to our Friday overnight and Sunday day shifts. Julie is a wife to Clay, and mother to Addison, Gracie, and Luke. She enjoys vacationing anywhere that doesn’t require a plane ride, and she played basketball in college! When you get to meet her, make sure to ask her about the tornado!

Welcome, Jennifer Grooms

We are excited to welcome Jennifer Grooms as a Family Care Manager at the House near Cox South. Jennifer will be working overnight on Sundays and Mondays. Jennifer has been married for 21 years and has two beautiful daughters and two sweet fur babies. She is active in her church and enjoys serving in their kitchen on Wednesday evenings. Jennifer’s favorite thing to do is spend time with family and friends. Her husband says she’s never met a stranger, and we know Jennifer will be a great addition to our team!

Welcome, Grace Richter

It’s great to welcome Grace Richter to our Family Care Manager team at the House near Cox South. Grace attends Missouri State University where she is majoring in Social Work and plans to pursue a master’s degree through MSU and begin working in the Foster Care system. She is also taking a creative writing class, which she is really enjoying. Grace is excited about the opportunity to work at Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Ozarks because she feels it will provide professional growth in a social work setting. Grace is working the day shift on Saturdays. We’re so excited to have you on our team, Grace!

Happy Wheels Small bottles of lotion Mini hand sanitizers Activity books (crossword puzzles, Sudoku, word finder) Small packs of crayons for the activity books Travel manicure sets Chapstick Individual packs of Kleenex Individually packaged snacks (Goldfish, granola bars, Teddy Grahams, gum, mints, Lifesavers, etc.)

12-ounce water bottles

Farewell, Heather and Alyssa!

After nearly four years with RMHC of the Ozarks, we said farewell to Heather Hyde on December 27. Heather joined our organization as the Associate Program Manager of the House at Mercy Kids in early 2018, and in 2020, she transitioned to the same role at the House near Cox South. Although we will miss her, we wish her the very best in her new role at Central Bank of the Ozarks. Heather will continue to support the organization in a volunteer capacity at our future events, and we hope to see her frequently so we can also watch Baby Cooper grow.

Alyssa Fonseca became a Family Care Manager at the House near Cox South last April, working two nights a week at RMH while attending Missouri State University. She is majoring in Cellular and Molecular Biology and has decided she needs additional time to concentrate on her rigorous studies, so she worked her last shift on December 16. We will miss you, Alyssa! We wish you the very best as you pursue your career in medicine.

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Heart Tooth Talk of the Truck 2 Years Later…

McKenna Courtney Molly Gross Anna Gunderman Grace Hoffman Sarah Jobe Anya Jones Derrick Marshall

Birthdays January 23 Anya Jones February 8 Britton Jobe February 17 Dr. Raymond Burton February 22 Dr. Alison Lamphear February 23 Sarah Jobe March 15 Molly Gross

STAFF

PRESIDENT & CEO Bonnie Keller PROGRAM DIRECTORRONALD MCDONALD CARE MOBILE Mindy Muñoz GENERAL DENTIST Dr. Sarah Cimino COMMUNITY DENTISTS Dr. Raymond Burton Dr. Aaron Dannegger Dr. Brett Durbin Dr. Misty Shelton Office Coordinator Dawn Brown DENTAL ASSISTANTS Julia Golden Megan Sanders

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By Dr. Sarah Cimino

Every spring I take pen to paper (actually I type on my laptop, but ‘taking finger to keyboard’ just sounds weird) and share some insight into my previous year aboard the Tooth Truck. As this spring marks my 11th year with the organization, I’ve run the gamut of what I have shared previously from favorite patients, touching moments, how-tos procedures, top ten’s etc.

But I would be remiss to not address the elephant in the room for the past two years and answer the question that I most frequently hear from volunteers, board members, fellow dentists, friends, and family, “How On the lighter side of things, here are some pictures of Dr. are you guys doing with all Sarah’s ever evolving “dental PPE fashion” of ‘this’?”

The short answer is “all things considered; we are doing great!” Our mission on the Tooth Truck has not wavered in the past two years and we continue to provide exceptional dental care to those children in our community who are most in need. The fact that we have remained operational when many other mobile programs have taken a hiatus is truly a testament to the dedication of the Tooth Truck and Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Ozarks’ staff and board members. As we have learned more and more about the situation we are in, some of our protocols have shifted but our focus on providing a safe environment for our staff and patients and provide optimal dental treatment for our young patients has never wavered.

I know this yearly update is shorter than usual but there are exciting things in the works for the Tooth Truck in 2022 so stay tuned to future Heart Beats editions for some big news (think 10 tons big…)

Tooth Truck Wish List

Action figures Matchbox cars Hair accessories (clips, headbands) Chapstick Clorox Wipes Dixie Cups Handheld games

Jewelry (necklaces, bracelets) DVDs for older children Outdoor toys (bubbles, sidewalk chalk, Frisbees, sports balls) Walmart gift cards Beanie Babies

Ronald McDonald Care Mobile of the Ozarks November Stats

Staff Welcomes The Tooth Truck has added to its team!

We are thrilled to welcome Dawn Brown to the Office Coordinator position. Dawn has worked a variety of paid and volunteer positions, as well as taken time to be a stay-athome mom to her son. She is ready to return to work where she can make a positive impact on others. In her free time, Dawn enjoys reading, time with her dogs, and volunteering in the community. Welcome to our team, Dawn!

Volunteer Welcomes The Tooth Truck is happy to begin welcoming volunteers back to our program with strong Covid protocols. If you or someone you know is interested in applying, please contact Program Director Mindy Muñoz at mindy.munoz@toothtruck.org.

Our program is growing as we recently welcomed the following individuals:

McKenna Courtney Molly Gross Anna Gunderman Grace Hoffman Derrick Marshall And a big welcome back to:

Anya Jones Sarah Jobe

Thank you for being the heart of the Tooth Truck and helping to boost the self-esteem of each patient you meet.

Children Treated:...............234 Dental Appointments Provided: ............................... 340 Year to Date Dental Appointments: ................2090 Program to Date Dental Appointments: ............62,007 Program to Date Value of Treatment: .......$19.8 million Children Who Received Treatment: Bingham Elementary Bissett Elementary Field Elementary Glendale High School Great Circle Monett Schools Pershing School Pittman Elementary Sequiota Elementary Weller Elementary Wilder Elementary

December Stats Children Treated:................161 Dental Appointments Provided: ............................... 269 Year to Date Dental Appointments: .................2359 Program to Date Dental Appointments: ............ 62,276 Program to Date Value of Treatment: .......... $20 million Children Who Received Treatment:

Bingham Elementary Disney Elementary Fremont Elementary Great Circle Hickory Hills School McGregor Elementary Pittman Elementary Pleasant View School Rountree Elementary Truman Elementary

January Stats Children Treated:.................86 Dental Appointments Provided: ................................156 Year to Date Dental Appointments: ....................156 Program to Date Dental Appointments: .............62,432 Program to Date Value of Treatment: .......$20.1 million Children Who Received Treatment: Bowerman Elementary Boyd Elementary Great Circle McGregor Elementary

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Heart Beats

949 E. Primrose Street Springfield, Missouri 65807-5257

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

Mission Moment The Wagner Family Finding yourself in the hospital is not a pleasant reality for anyone. It’s all the more difficult when your child is the one in care.

Now imagine having no choice but to leave your child for 14 days, only seeing them through FaceTime during what would be their scheduled touch-times.

This was the heartbreaking situation the Wagner family found themselves in after the father was experiencing some congestion and tested positive for COVID. They quickly did the right thing by informing the NICU and our RMH staff so that we could safely assist them in checking out of the House. This was not only devastating for the Wagners, but for our staff as well. We had all come to know and love the Wagner family and cherished the incredible positivity, kindness, and optimism they brought to the House.

Soon after their temporary departure, our team of Mercy House staff banded together to ensure that, if at all possible, we would

have their room (109) cleaned, restocked, and available for them when they were permitted to return. They live on a farm and had commented on loving their room and having the big windows that this particular room has to offer. Over the next 14 days, we did our best to utilize Room 109 for short stays only, quickly turning the room around in anticipation for the Wagner family to return.

When the day finally arrived to check back into the House, they couldn’t believe their room had been “held” for them. One of our Family Care Managers even tracked down a farm-themed layette for their son Cole and placed it on their bed. We told them Room 109 had been lovingly referred to as “The Wagner Room” throughout this time, and the mother said they might just have to sponsor that room in the future and make it official!

They were extraordinarily grateful, and it was a warm welcome that they desperately needed after what they had been through.

Seeing the team come together with this common goal, to love and serve this amazing family who found themselves in an increasingly difficult situation, is the perfect example of who Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Ozarks is. We couldn’t do what we do without the passion and commitment of each and every staff member and volunteer. We are creating a “home-away-from-home” and providing moments worth remembering in a time many would otherwise hope to forget.