Served with Love - Volunteering at Ronald McDonald House Charities

The Served With Love program brings groups of volunteers into the kitchen at RMHC Philly’s Chestnut Street House to prep and serve tasty meals for over 250 individuals who are staying there while their children receive life-saving medical care. It’s a meaningful way to give back, especially when you’re surrounded by such an incredible cause.

This is our third year in a row volunteering with Served With Love at RMHC Philly! If you hadn’t already guessed, we’re not just first-timers here—we’re basically Gordon Ramsay in chef aprons. No joke, some of us could probably write the textbook on “How to Prep Snacks Like a Pro.”

The volunteer event starts with a tour of the Ronald McDonald House and an overview of their incredible work. Then, it’s time to gear up: aprons on, gloves on, hats on, and game face on! The tasks vary each time we come in—whether it’s setting up grab-and-go snacks for families, prepping meals for breakfast or lunch, or doing some heavy-duty food assembly (think: chopping veggies, slicing mini pizzas, and even sanitizing tables to make sure everything is spotless). Last year, we broke down roasted chickens so efficiently that Brian Lowes joked, “I could carve a turkey with my eyes closed now!”

But the real magic happens at 6pm when families start lining up for dinner. It’s like clockwork: we work the cafeteria line, serving as many meals as we can in record time. Efficiency is key here—we’re basically chefs in a busy kitchen, but with way more heart and a lot less stress (we hope).

Once dinner is served, there’s still work to be done: breaking down leftovers into individual containers for families who might have missed the meal or need something later in the night. This part feels especially meaningful—it’s like making sure no one goes hungry, even when they’re not around.

And then, of course, we clean up—because leaving a mess isn’t an option! Dishes are washed, floors are swept, and food prep surfaces are wiped down until they sparkle. It’s the kind of teamwork that reminds us why we love volunteering together—it’s hard work, but it’s so rewarding.

In the end, it was another fulfilling and humbling experience for our lodge. We’re already looking forward to doing even more volunteer events like this in the future! If you have a charity you’d like us to consider or if you’d like to join us for the next Served With Love event at RMHC Philly, drop us an email at ShekinahFernwood@gmail.com.

Volunteering with Served With Love is more than just cooking and cleaning—it’s about making a difference one meal at a time. And hey, if you’re looking for proof that we’re pros now… well, let’s just say we’ve got the whole “multitasking while wearing an apron” thing down to a science.