The Fourth Annual Camp Colleen
Jun 27, 2024
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. The third annual event included a new partnership with Project Linus and expanded to a total of five RMH houses, some on July 13, 2023 and at Lurie House on August 17, 2023. This year, our fourth annual event on June 27, 2024 was again a huge success!
Preparations begin months in advance: Preparations always begin with a spring cleaning week in 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 signed up, camp-themed decorations created and toy-filled backpacks prepared.
This year we were again 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 roasted chicken legs with smoky grill rub, corn on the cob with cilantro lime butter, classic potato salad, watermelon salad and our famous campfire cupcakes. Colleen Cares, Red Shoe Society and Junior League of Chicago volunteers had purchased all ingredients to prepare the meals and brought their enthusiasm to the kitchen! They also decorated the dining area and tables (thank you Bridget Rivard for your camp tent creativity!).
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 chose tattoos, decorated flower pots and bird houses, made bead bracelets, and took photos near a tent photo opportunity to place in their handmade frame. An ice cream bar added more sweetness. More photos can be seen in our Camp Colleen photo video below.
We heard many campers say, “This was the best day ever!”
Colleen’s presence was felt throughout the day and many paused a moment at her memorial stone or enjoyed the nearby water ball fountain!
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 overwhelmingly touching. This is what Colleen’s vision truly was. So many heartwarming moments and happy memories created.”
Here are some of the house volunteers whose work is greatly appreciated:
led by Christine Gleason
led by Michele Gansberg
led by Vickie Jahaske
led by Bridget Rivard
Colleen Cares Organization was honored to deliver a $10,000 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. Shout out and special thank you to Red Shoe’s Kristen Chin and RMHC’s Meg Usher for their dedication each year in leading all the coordination that makes Camp Colleen a reality.
