Spring Cleaning

May 8, 2023

Spring is a wonderful season to clean up the insides of places and things, get outside and freshen everything up, even our spirit! This year, Colleen Cares joined the Red Shoe Society Chicago to spring clean at the Chicagoland Ronald McDonald Houses. Many volunteers shared their time and talents the week of May 8 to do a variety of yard work, painting and deep cleaning in the various MCD houses.

May 9th was a perfect spring day with the sun shining, birds chirping, and a rainbow of tulips in bloom!

Christine (Colleen’s mom) was joined by her cousin, Lisa, and a new Red Shoe Society member, Patrick, at the Loyola House.

Their mission: Dismantle a weathered five car train made of wood and full of soil, sand and weeds. Red Shoe Society will build a new train in the coming months.

“The Secret Garden is a lovely place for families to enjoy outdoor activities outside of the Loyola house. I most certainly felt Colleen’s presence and strength in this special place.”
- Christine Gleason

While working with our shovels, we had some fun conversations. Patrick had asked Christine how she was affiliated with Red Shoe. She started telling him Colleen’s story…
He said, “wait you’re THAT Colleen’s mom?!” Patrick had attended his first RSS All Members meeting a few weeks earlier and said the first 20 minutes was explaining to new members about Colleen and our upcoming Camp Colleen.

Christine: “I was so extremely proud. We are looking so forward to Camp Colleen!”

It was a real treat to get a tour of the Loyola house after our work was finished.
Spring cleanup will definitely be a supported annual event!