Hundreds of volunteers gathered together at the Ronald McDonald House Charities in San Diego to make wigs for San Diego’s littlest cancer patients over the weekend. The Magic Yarn Project partnered with the Ronald McDonald House Charities and JustServe to bring a little light to those who are suffering with cancer. Coordinated in San Diego by local representatives of JustServe, Rebecca Bennion and Robin Gephart.
The Magic Yarn Project is a national non-profit organization “created to answer the call to bring light to little cancer fighters, and to help community members discover ways to be those light-givers.” They do this by creating character wigs (inspired by Disney characters) out of lots of very soft yarn.
Volunteers were located using the JustServe.org website; a site where volunteer needs in the community can be connected to volunteers looking to serve. JustServe.org can now be found in eight countries and has hundreds of volunteer opportunities posted right here in San Diego county.
Throughout the 2-day event, 215 volunteers were able to create 103 character wigs and 30 super hero beanies that were then donated to the Ronald McDonald House Charities to be distributed to cancer patients right here in San Diego.
Volunteers came as families, youth groups, businesses, friends and neighbors and left with their hearts touched and asking when the project would be done again.
The goal is to continue this partnership between the Ronald McDonald House, The Magic Yarn Project and JustServe to have this event become a yearly volunteering opportunity here in San Diego.
Mike Brand from Vivint Solar brought his employees to help with this project. He said “One of our guiding principles at Vivint Solar is to give back to our community. When we saw The Magic Yarn Project and the impact it was having on children, it touched our hearts and we were elated to be able to contribute, even in a small way”.
Residents of the Ronald McDonald House, Shannon and Oliver Ajluni (mother and son), both cancer patients, were thrilled to receive their “Moana” and “Captain Jack” wigs.