FORT WORTH ? The Tarleton Texan football team recently spent an evening out of its offseason to serve a spaghetti supper at the Ronald McDonald House in Fort Worth.
For the second straight year, the Texans continued their community service projects by preparing an evening meal for the families of the Ronald McDonald House. Spaghetti, several different sauces, garlic and French bread and salad were served for the main course. Ice cream sundaes topped off the dinner.
“This has been a great way for us to give back,” said Tarleton head coach Sam McElroy. “It is also a great chance for our players and staff to see how fortunate they are to have the opportunities they have. We all saw how a little bit of time goes a long way to encouraging people.”
The Ronald McDonald House serves a special place in McElroy's heart. The McElroy family stayed at the house after his youngest daughter was diagnosed with a rare form of leukemia in 2005.
“Having been there gives us a different perspective on things,” McElroy said. “When Val and I stayed, we were very grateful for a nice, hot meal instead of having to worry about what we were going to have for supper or going out to eat again. We understand what those families are going through, and this is a good chance for us to share with those families during a tough time in their lives.”
The Texans served around 100 people on Tuesday, July 1, and McElroy said it was a blessing for the team, coaching staff and Tarleton.
“We had a good time showing the spirit of this University,” McElroy said. “This was good for Tarleton because people from around the state and around the country got a good feel for our football program and for Tarleton State University. This unique opportunity allowed us to give those families and children a break from their every day routine, and our guys and coaches really enjoyed interacting and playing with the children and families.”
The Ronald McDonald House Charities are established to provide a “temporary 'home away from home' that serves and sustains families of seriously ill children receiving treatment at the local hospital,” according to the charity's web site.
The Ronald McDonald House of Fort Worth opened its doors in 1981. Families who stay at the Ronald McDonald House travel from both in and out of state as well as internationally.
Families are asked to pay $15 each night, but according to the web site, no one is ever turned away because of the inability to pay.
The Tarleton football team delivers Meals on Wheels on Thursdays in Stephenville, and the Texans helped with this year's Tri-Star Games. However, this community service project went deep into the heart of the program.
“We are very grateful for what the Ronald McDonald House did for our family, and we are glad our student-athletes and coaching staff wanted to give back,” McElroy said. “Our guys did a great job representing both the University and the Texan football program.”
