CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Over at Brookdale Corpus Christi, there are a few seniors who love to serve their community.
A group of five residents pride themselves on their volunteer work at the Ronald McDonald House Charities. The facility houses families traveling to our city for the children's hospital.
To offer their support to those needing a little extra help, they lend their services in the form of comfort food.
Each month, the group prepares a special home-cooked meal for the families who spend most of their days having takeout or tv-dinners.
The event started as a Christmas tradition, but they enjoyed it so much the group didn't want to spend the entire year waiting for the holiday, when they felt that they could be doing more to help.
"The families that are at Ronald McDonald, they shouldn't have to worry about their food. They shouldn't have to worry about anything but taking care of their family," Resident Linda Rachui said.
They say showing up every month is not only fulfilling, but also lots of fun to work alongside one another as they put together each meal.
Their specialty? Spaghetti and meatballs! Those ladies roll over 300 meatballs for each visit, but Rachui says there are other tasks to be delegated as well.
"We each have different jobs and mine is basically making the salad because I can sit down," she laughed.
Victoria Shirley's task was given to her for what the group considers a unique gift. "They gave me the special job. I get to cut up all the onions! I have this special talent. For some reason, I don't cry!"
Rachui says they hope to continue the monthly tradition that brings them so much joy for as long as they can. "It's just fun for the five of us to get together and enjoy helping other people, and if more people would help each other, it would be a fantastic place."