UNM alumni have donated their time, money and cooking skills to kick off community service projects for Homecoming week.
On Oct. 9, members of the UNM Alumni Homecoming Committee made dinner for more than 70 residents at the Albuquerque branch of national nonprofit Ronald McDonald House. RMDH gives families a place to live if their children require an extended hospital stay. Established in 1982, the local RMDH is on north campus, within walking distance of UNM Hospital.
Roberta Ricci, vice president of alumni relations, said 12 members of the committee volunteered as guest chefs for a night at RMDH.
“I was trying to find a civic engagement project that tied into either education or the University,” Ricci said. “Since the Ronald McDonald House is very tied to University Hospital, I thought it was just a perfect fit for the community here.”
Ricci said the committee spent about two hours cooking a traditional New Mexican dinner.
“The Alumni Homecoming Committee met over at the Ronald McDonald House, and we were their guest chefs for the evening,” Ricci said. “We cooked red and green enchiladas, beans, Spanish rice, deserts and tortillas for the families.”
Ricci said committee members were given grocery lists and purchased all ingredients out of their own pockets.
Brad Hutchins, committee member and UNM athletics marketing officer, said he enjoyed making dinner for RMDH residents and wants to do it again next year.
“I think any time you have the opportunity to help someone else, you should take advantage of that,” Hutchins said. “Often you get on a committee and just plan events for Homecoming week. It’s nice to think outside the box and also help some folks in the community.”
Ricci said the committee organized two other projects that will benefit the local RMDH. Residents are always in need of home-cooked meals, Ricci said, and the committee is asking for casserole donations throughout the week.
“For Homecoming, starting on Monday, we’re collecting casseroles for the Casserole Angel Program,” Ricci said. “When families come back to the RMDH and they don’t have a guest chef, they can just pop a casserole in the oven. They also use the casseroles to send with the families when they go back home so they can have a couple days of reprieve and get situated.”
Ricci said casseroles can be dropped off at the Ronald McDonald House, University House or Hodgin Hall. She said the committee is also asking for donations of toilet paper for the local RMDH. She said students can also get a free Homecoming pin in exchange for a toilet paper roll on Wednesday from 11 a.m to 12:30 p.m. in SUB
Ballroom C.
Hutchins said UNM students who want to get more involved can participate in both projects.
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Ryan Lindquist, associate director of student activities, said volunteering is an important part of every Homecoming week. He enjoyed making dinner for RMDH residents so much that he wants to do it again with a group of friends, he said.
“I think giving back to the community makes you want to do more,” Lindquist said. “We just wanted to make sure there was a community service aspect to Homecoming this year, and the Alumni Association did a good job of putting that together so we could help make that come true.”
*Drop off casserole or toilet paper donations:
Ronald McDonald house, open 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. Monday – Friday.
Hodgin Hall, open 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday – Friday
The University House, open 7:30 a.m. – 9 30 a.m. Monday – Friday
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