“The question is not whether we can afford to invest in every child; it is whether we can afford not to.”
Students from the Student Government Association (SGA) at North Rowan Elementary School understood the meaning of that quotation expressed by Marion Wright Edelman when they visited the Ronald McDonald House of Charlotte.
The journey began when Ronald McDonald visited the students and presented a show titled, “Giving Back with Ronald McDonald.”
The children learned how anyone, no matter his or her age, can help others by using their time, talents and gifts.
The SGA put the words into action by selling “Hearts of Love” on which students and staff wrote kind thoughts and the hearts were used to decorate the cafeteria.
With the money SGA members raised, they were able to donate books and games which families of sick children can use while their children are in the hospital.
The SGA also raised money that will be used to sponsor a family to stay at the home.
Students were able to see the playroom, the kitchen, a bedroom and “Toyland,” a room where the siblings can choose a toy to play with when they are visiting their ill sibling, during a tour of the facility in June.
The students were moved by the experience and walked away with a greater appreciation of how lucky they are to be healthy.
In fact, one student summed up the visit as she was leaving by creating her own quotation, “That’s a heart changer!”