NEW ORLEANS (press release) – On Tuesday, May 21, renowned author Rick Telander of “Sweet Dreams,” a book of 42 original poems and an equal number of full-page, full-color illustrations from 42 different artists, hosted a special book giveaway to the families staying at Ronald McDonald House Charities of South Louisiana (RMHC-SLA) located on the campus of Children’s Hospital of New Orleans.
Telander began writing “Sweet Dreams” when he himself was sick in a bed many years ago and had begun writing the poems in his head. “Sweet Dreams” is a work of caring for young boys and girls who must make that ordinary yet complex and sometimes frightening transition from waking reality to the land of nod.
“Too nauseated to read, watch TV, paint or even look at the wallpaper in my room, I closed my eyes and began to create in my head the poems that I hoped would someday be soothing and entertaining for children before bedtime, naps or when ill,” said Telander. “Through it all I had the dream of helping children and their families at Ronald McDonald Houses across the country. The work the Houses do is so kind and necessary that there are few things more purely charitable than they, and what could be better for a book started in a hospital than it someday helping Ronald McDonald Houses in their mission? This book is a gift to all children, the way the best illustrated words can be.”
Telander has already placed hundreds of copies of “Sweet Dreams” in Ronald McDonald Houses in Chicago, Peoria, Springfield, St. Louis, as well as at the Children’s National Hospital in Bethesda, MD.
“We are beyond grateful for Rick’s generosity,” said Grace McIntosh, executive director of RMHC-SLA. “He truly embodies the mission of Ronald McDonald House Charities and understands that by helping to alleviate outside stressors that come along with having a seriously ill child families can draw strength and hope from being together and knowing they are not alone during difficult times.”
Along with the book giveaway at RMHC-SLA, Telander also made a stop by the Garden District Book Shop for a special reading.
Since RMHC-SLA’s founding in December 1983, they have served more than approximately 30,000 families from Greater New Orleans and across the country. With the help of the local community, they help ease the financial and emotional burdens families face as they access critical care for their children. They are that home-away-from-home, offering free accommodations, volunteer-provided meals, transportation when needed, a food pantry and a support system like no other.
To learn more about RMHC-SLA, including ways to volunteer and support families staying at the house, visit rmhc-sla.org.
