21st Annual Gift of Light, Gift of Love

Hear from one of our families, Amber and Korey Marrett, as they share their experience of how House staff and volunteers cared for their family during their 20-night stay at Ronald McDonald House of the Four States. 

For our final installment of musical performances, we are back in the new Harry M. Cornell Arts & Entertainment Complex to hear Missouri Southern State University's Chamber Singers. Listen and enjoy the traditional Christmas carol, "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen." We wish everyone tidings of comfort and joy during this special holiday season.

Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Four States believes that when a child is sick, the entire family needs comfort and support. Our programs give a family with a sick child what they need most - each other.

Become a Gift of Light, Gift of Love donor today! Your gift will help families with an ill or injured child the gift of togetherness and keep them near the care and resources they need to thrive. 

We are a tax exempt, nonprofit organization established as a 501(c)(3) and donations are tax deductible.

For the past 21 years, your giving through "Gift of Light, Gift of Love," has raised over $2.5 million for Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Four States to provide care and comfort to over 3,500 unduplicated families from 38 states and two foreign countries. Our gratitude and thanks goes to those who give their time, talent, and resources to help us meet this year's goal of $200,000. You enabled us to give a family with a sick child what they needed most - each other. Thank you.

Take a moment to reflect in the beauty of the season with this moving performance of "Silent Night" by students of Karen's Dance Studio. 

Carl Junction High School's Dynamics is back in the new Harry M. Cornell Arts & Entertainment Complex with a spirited performance of "Here Comes Santa Claus." Press play and enjoy!

Entrada Brass joins us on the Ronald McDonald House lawn to celebrate our 21st Annual Gift of Light, Gift of Love. Take a moment to enjoy their rendition of "The First Noel."

Watch Missouri Southern State University's Chamber Singers perform  a fun rendition of "I'll Be Home for Christmas" at the Harry M. Cornell Arts & Entertainment Complex. MSSU has partnered with our charity for Gift of Light, Gift of Love for a number of years. We are excited to continue to showcase their talented group, directed by Dr. David Sharlow and accompanied on piano by Glenda Austin. 

Watch and delight in the "Gift of Light" with this joyful Christmas carol performed by Entrada Brass on our lawn at Ronald McDonald House.

We continue our lighting celebration with the performance of a well-known Christmas carol, "Let It Snow," by Carl Junction High School "Dynamics." Special thanks goes to Connect2Culture and the Harry M. Cornell Arts & Entertainment Complex for the use of their beautiful, new performance hall. Enjoy!

Enjoy this fun and festive performance of "Here Comes Santa Claus" by young members of Karen's Dance Studio. Continue watching to get a tour of our electrical spectacle of lights on the grounds of Ronald McDonald House! 

On March 4, 2020, Amber Marrett checked into the hospital and was ordered to remain at the facility on bed rest due to severe preeclampsia. Five days later she and her husband, Korey, welcomed their first child into the world by emergency C-section, eight weeks before his due date. Walker, weighing only 3 pounds 14 ounces, was quickly carted off to Freeman Hospital's Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Being new parents, 30 minutes from home, and facing a global pandemic, Korey and Amber were so very thankful for the blessing of Ronald McDonald House.  

Amber shared, "Ronald McDonald House quickly became the solution to challenges we didn't even know we would soon face! No one can prepare you for the world of being a preemie parent... or so we thought! Postpartum anxiety, separation, insomnia, missing home and the very unnatural process of letting go and allowing others to care for your baby were all challenges we faced. Ronald McDonald House reminded us that we were not alone on a sometimes very uncertain journey."

"We were always greeted with a smile and someone eagerly asking how our son was doing," said Amber. "Each day, the staff and volunteers made it their mission to meet a need of ours. Whether they offered us a warm meal, a listening ear, or community resources, they were there when we needed them most. When we discovered the fee for our 20-night stay at Ronald McDonald House was covered by an anonymous donor, we immediately felt additional weight taken off of our shoulders.” 

Today, Walker is a happy and healthy two and a half year old who keeps his parents on their toes. The Marretts are just one of many families who called Ronald McDonald House their "home away from home" while their seriously ill child was treated in the hospital. 

Please consider making a Gift of Love this holiday season to help future families in the Four-State Area find comfort, support and joy at Ronald McDonald House or the Ronald McDonald Family Room in Mercy Hospital Joplin.

Local McDonald's owner/operators, Thomas Nichols and Alex Close-Maffei, express their support for Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Four States and offer an easy way you can help the charity, too.

Jordan Bolinger shares different ways Liberty has supported our local charity over the years. Learn how you or your business can also lend a hand.

Interested in volunteering? Please contact Lisa, program coordinator of volunteer services, at 417.624.2273.