giving ‹‹ INSPIRING PEOPLE
Care for the Caregivers Ronald McDonald House sends treats to the front lines. Ronald McDonald House of Morgantown provides lodging and other assistance for out-of-town families whose children are critically ill. Even before the West Virginia stay-at-home order kicked in, out of an abundance of caution for the families who come from all over to be with hospitalized children, the RMH closed to volunteers and visitors—but it remained open for families, with extra precautions. Ronald McDonald Houses everywhere are sited near medical centers and, in Morgantown, it sits just across the parking lot from Ruby Memorial Hospital. RMH staff feel connected with the health care workers who serve the same children and families they serve. So, in early April, the staff at RMH Morgantown created care packages—snack bags with raisins, cereal, juice boxes, and other treats, and toiletry kits with shampoo, deodorant, and other essentials, nearly 200 bags in all—for the health care workers and staff at WVU Medicine Children’s. “I can’t even fathom being on the front lines, dealing with the issues that come up, and dealing with the risks,” says Ronald McDonald House Charities of Pittsburgh and Morgantown Executive Director Eleanor Reigel. “We just wanted to take a moment and thank them.”
JILL KLEIN RONE W BERKELEY SPRINGS, MORGAN COUNTY Helping the Helpers The owner of Jules Enchanting Gifts turns to mask-making.
in berkeley springs, jules enchanting gifts has been in business for almost 24 years. After having to close for business due to COVID-19—except for mail order and contactless pickup—Jules Happy Rone was looking for a way to help. Mr. Rogers said, “When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’” Looking to help the helpers, Jules saw a need for masks and began to organize. On March 22, Jules created an event on Facebook to organize donations of cloth, thread, and elastic and to find people to sew. The community came through. People began dropping off donations, ordering elastic, and volunteering to sew. Jules and her employees Jill and Elaine have all been sewing, along with several other wonderful members of the community. Requests have come from hospitals, Senior Life Services of Morgan County, senior centers, nursing homes, emergency medical technicians, emergency rooms, home health aides, doctors’ offices, the Veterans’ Administration, and other essential business workers in Berkeley Springs and Martinsburg as well as Winchester, Virginia; Fulton County,
Pennsylvania; Baltimore, Maryland; and even Florida. Jules is still shipping from her gift shop—especially puzzles to keep people busy and gifts to brighten these dark days. Health care workers, other individuals in need of masks, and those who follow the adventures of the Jules crew can find them on Facebook at facebook.com/ julesenchantinggifts , or visit her website at julesenchantinggifts.com . Jules got creative with the last big batch of masks and created some quarantine art—a beautiful spiral. “Once I had them all laid out, I have to say, it was so beautiful I just wanted to leave them where they were, but it made using the kitchen practically impossible. To give you an idea of size, I put a twin sheet down underneath, but the masks quickly got too big. Don’t worry, they’re all washed before donating.” As of this writing, more than 1,500 masks have been donated, and the sewing goes on. Jules wants to thank all of the essential workers who are out there every day keeping the world turning. “Our hearts are with you, and so are our masks!” And she sends a huge thanks to everyone who has donated cloth and thread and elastic and time. “I’m very proud of our community.”
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