The Third Annual Camp Colleen
Jul 13 & Aug 17, 2023
How Camp Colleen evolved: Colleen, while a volunteer with Red Shoe Society (RSS), proposed the idea of a day camp for families staying at Ronald McDonald Houses (RMHC-CNI) as a distraction from hospital visits and worry. Red Shoe has posthumously honored Colleen’s proposal by creating an annual Camp Colleen. The first camp event was held August 5, 2021 at the Lurie Children’s Ronald McDonald House. The second annual event was held August 4, 2022 and expanded to three additional RMH Illinois houses. This year, our third annual event expanded to a total of five houses in the Chicagoland area! Camp Colleen at four houses was held on July 13 and at Lurie House on August 17.
Preparations begin months in advance: This year’s preparations began with a Spring Cleaning week in early-May. Red Shoe Society’s Family Enrichment Committee coordinates with the Ronald McDonald Houses participating in Camp Colleen. Menus are planned, shopping lists made, volunteers sign up, camp-themed decorations created and toy-filled backpacks prepared.
This year we were blessed with a very generous donation from Project Linus! This is a group of talented and dedicated people who create blankets to comfort children in need of a blanket “hug.” Blankets ranged from small and soft baby size to blankets made just for teens. Some blankets were tied fleece or quilts while others were knitted or crocheted. The selection of boys and girls colors and themes were amazing and the children had fun sorting through them to find just the right one! Their generosity was shared across the five houses hosting Camp Colleen.
The camp dinner menu this year included smoked BBQ chicken sliders, campfire roasted corn on the cob, roasted BBQ mixed veggies, roasted potato salad, Bushes vegetarian baked beans and our famous campfire cupcakes. Colleen Cares and Red Shoe volunteers had purchased all ingredients to prepare the meals and brought their enthusiasm to the kitchen!
The tables were decorated with camp tents at all houses. Everyone received a camp t-shirt, backpacks filled with goodies and their choice of a Linus blanket. The Lurie House rooftop was again the location for the Camp Colleen experience for families to enjoy camp crafts and foods. The music played while campers created sand art, bracelets, and took photos near a tent photo opportunity to place in their handmade frame. Colleen insisted on s’mores, of course! An ice cream bar added more sweetness. More photos can be seen in our Camp Colleen photo video below.
One of the campers said “This was the best day ever!”
Colleen’s presence was felt throughout the day and many paused a moment at her memorial stone.
Christine, Colleen’s mother, shares, “I am so honored to be able to continue Colleen’s dream with this wonderful event. The thankfulness I receive from families every year is truly overwhelmingly touching. One mom told me she and her one son felt lucky enough to be able to attend the camp two years in a row, and this year her other son, who had received a transplant, was able to attend with his brother. She had the most beautiful words of gratitude for the camp and how much it means to them all to be distracted for an evening during very trying difficult times. This is what Colleen’s vision truly was. It brought tears to my eyes to talk with them before they left the camp to go down to their room. So many heartwarming moments as people left.”
Here are some of the house volunteers:
Special thank you to the volunteers from Junior League Chicago
“I heard SO much amazing feedback from families staying at the House. They truly loved the evening, and it was so amazing seeing how happy all the kids and parents were.” - Meg Usher, Development Coordinator, RMHC-CNI
Colleen Cares Organization was honored to deliver a $15,000 donation to the Ronald McDonald House Charities.
Here is a video of Camp Colleen photos. You can also view it on our YouTube channel. Remember to give it a thumbs up ‘like’ and subscribe!
More about Red Shoe Society and Ronald McDonald House Charities:
Red Shoe Society Chicago is focused to giving time, inspiration, creativity, and funds to help families with hospitalized children at Ronald McDonald House Charities of Chicagoland & Northwest Indiana (RMHC-CHI) get better together. You can register to be a member of Red Shoe here if you feel called to be more involved.
The comfortable, caring spaces that RMHC-CNI create for families is beyond impressive. Guests are referred by social workers at the hospital. Once they stay at RMHC, they are there for the duration of their medical care. The average stay is nine days, but they come again for follow-up visits. Some families have been there for years. Sadly, they are often at 97% capacity with families during the most trying times in their lives. When a RMHC is full, they are offered a room at an area hotel. All of this work is 100% privately funded. McDonalds funds 30%, while the remainder comes from other corporations and individuals. Colleen Cares is honored to continue contributing to this mission and Colleen’s causes as a Red Shoe volunteer.
Camp Colleen is coordinated by Red Shoe Society and the Colleen Cares Organization. It is held at the Ronald McDonald Houses of Chicagoland.
