Meet the dedicated volunteers who help make the House That Love Built a home away from home, and read why they chose to give back.
There is no doubt that Ann Jeffrey is one of our longest-serving regular volunteers. She’s been volunteering in the Family Room at Albany Medical Center for twenty-four years!
At the pediatric and NICU Family Rooms, Ann greets families when they come in and then takes them through the registration process. “While doing that I ask them what they need, what they’re looking for—if I can get them a cup of coffee, or a snack or something to eat,” she said.
“We’re just trying to provide them with anything they need, to make their stay more comfortable at the hospital,” Ann explained. “People are so grateful. I think they feel comfortable in that homelike environment.”
While she spends every Wednesday morning at Albany Medical Center, Ann dedicates every other Thursday afternoon to volunteering at the Ronald McDonald House, often filling in extra needs when we give her a call. One of her favorite parts of the job is recognizing families from the House at the hospital (and vice versa).
“It’s a very worthwhile organization, and the volunteers are a good group of people—very committed to the organization,” she continued. “Everyone’s focus is on the kids and the families, and everybody always says thank you.”
You know the Happy Hikers are in the Ronald McDonald House when you hear Deb, Jane, and Teresa catching up over vegetable prep in the kitchen. This meal team met as students at the Albany College of Pharmacy, and they’ve since taken their friendship to RMHC, providing a comforting dinner each month for families.
“There is nothing like having a home cooked meal waiting for you when you get back from visiting your child in the hospital,” Teresa said. “My child was in the pediatric ICU at AMC for 3+ weeks when he was three weeks old. We were fortunate to have the support of family and friends at the time. They fed our family for weeks.”
The Happy Hikers first started volunteering in 2020, with some encouragement from group founder Patty Donato. Patty’s own cousin’s daughter was diagnosed with leukemia, and her family ended up staying at the Ronald McDonald House in Albany. Though Patty has since moved to Florida, her friends continue giving back each month.
“I work with a great group of volunteers!” Deb told us. “They are very considerate, giving of their time, kind and wonderful people.”
“It is wonderful when other volunteers remember you,” Jane added, acknowledging the Guest Services volunteers and House Warmers who make sure everything runs smoothly while they’re cooking. “Not only do the recipients thank us, but so do the volunteers.”
Group Members: Debra Feinberg, Teresa Kane, Jane Boyd
You will usually find Loretta Ruperto in the heart of the Ronald McDonald House, also known as our main kitchen. Originally a Love Is Served meal partner, she now spends every Thursday morning as a House Warmer brewing coffee, stocking breakfast foods, making sandwiches, and occasionally baking her irresistible muffins for families.
“I look at it as a way of making things easier for people,” she said. “We come in, we make sure some of the basic needs are met, like making lunches that go over to the Family Room, and to the NICU Family Room now, too.”
One of Loretta’s favorite parts about her role is watching families get to know each other at the Ronald McDonald House.
“You see it a lot with preemies—parents ask each other ‘how much do they weigh today’ or ‘how much are they drinking today’—and the same is true with a lot of the families who are facing much more challenging hospitalizations. We can give them support in other ways, but there’s nothing like somebody going through the same thing you are.”
“You get much more than you give,” Loretta added. “There are so many opportunities to just help somebody a little bit, and by making their life a little easier, you get so much back.”
