Madeline Leung is a member of the Public Relations Committee.
Not many of us can say we’ve ever had to worry about where we would be getting our next meal from. Of course, we constantly hear about being grateful for what we have in life, but if you take a moment to really think about it, it can be shocking. As a college student, not only do I get a quality education and have supportive friends/family, but I also don’t have to worry about obtaining basic necessities to stay in good health – like food, shelter, water, etc. For patients and families at UNC Children’s, it’s a different story. They don’t get to have the luxuries some of us do, for they are burdened with hospitalization.
On Tuesday, I attended my very first Parents’ Night Out (PNO) with Carolina for the Kids. I helped serve and deliver meals to the families of patients in the children’s hospital, working with other CFTK volunteers. For many of these families, the weight of their child’s medical aid is enough to worry about, emotionally and financially.
My visit to N.C. Children’s Hospital opened my eyes to the complication’s families face beyond just the medical bills. Some of these parents may not even have the time to go get a meal for themselves, for they don’t want to leave their child alone or don’t have the time to pick one up. Not only that, but buying meals can add up quickly in terms of cost.
Carolina for the Kids aims to help these families and patients in ways that insurance cannot. One way we can do this is by serving free meals to these families every week. It takes one more weight off the shoulders of these families and allows them to focus more on the wellness of their child, not how they will be getting their next meal. CFTK does many amazing projects and PNO is just one of them. My time volunteering on Tuesday was extremely rewarding and I would recommend anyone to do PNO if given the chance. These families were so grateful to be able to come in and be served a meal, or even to receive one at their door. It’s one thing to be a part of the organization behind the scenes, but it is truly a whole other experience to see who you are helping firsthand.
If you’re interested in becoming more involved in the work CFTK does, please visit http://www.carolinaftk.org/our-work.html to learn more!
On Tuesday, I attended my very first Parents’ Night Out (PNO) with Carolina for the Kids. I helped serve and deliver meals to the families of patients in the children’s hospital, working with other CFTK volunteers. For many of these families, the weight of their child’s medical aid is enough to worry about, emotionally and financially.
My visit to N.C. Children’s Hospital opened my eyes to the complication’s families face beyond just the medical bills. Some of these parents may not even have the time to go get a meal for themselves, for they don’t want to leave their child alone or don’t have the time to pick one up. Not only that, but buying meals can add up quickly in terms of cost.
Carolina for the Kids aims to help these families and patients in ways that insurance cannot. One way we can do this is by serving free meals to these families every week. It takes one more weight off the shoulders of these families and allows them to focus more on the wellness of their child, not how they will be getting their next meal. CFTK does many amazing projects and PNO is just one of them. My time volunteering on Tuesday was extremely rewarding and I would recommend anyone to do PNO if given the chance. These families were so grateful to be able to come in and be served a meal, or even to receive one at their door. It’s one thing to be a part of the organization behind the scenes, but it is truly a whole other experience to see who you are helping firsthand.
If you’re interested in becoming more involved in the work CFTK does, please visit http://www.carolinaftk.org/our-work.html to learn more!