FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                  

June 30, 2011                                                                                                           

Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central New York Celebrates Third Annual “Christmas in July”

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central New York is celebrating “Christmas in July” and encouraging the community to donate items off of its wish list to support the families of seriously ill children staying at the House.

Wish list items include: coffee, fruit drink mixes, juice boxes, granola and cereal bars,  bagels, english muffins, bread (white and wheat), individual snacks (pretzels, cookies, Chex Mix, Fruit Roll-Ups, etc.), toilet bowl cleaner, trash bags (kitchen and jumbo), Lysol spray, plastic utensils, Soft Scrub and white copy paper (8½” x 11”).

The Central New York Ronald McDonald House wish list also includes gift cards to Wegmans, Walmart, Price Chopper, Rite Aid and Target, to help purchase items of immediate need.

All items must be new due to the extreme susceptibility of the children.

 To view the complete “Christmas in July” wish list, visit Summer 2011 Wish List.

Donations for the “Christmas in July” event can be dropped off at the CNY Ronald McDonald House at 1027 East Genesee St., Syracuse on Thursday, July 28 (noon to 7 p.m.) and Friday, July 29 (9 a.m. to 6 p.m.).

Olum’s will be collecting wish list items for Christmas in July again this year. Donations can be dropped off at three of their locations: Campus Plaza at 3701 Vestal Parkway East, Vestal; 5775 Bridge St., East Syracuse; and 168 Northern Lights Plaza, Mattydale. Maurices, a clothing store in Oswego, will also be collecting wish list items at 437 State Route 104, Oswego.

Olum’s and Maurices will both accept donations through July 29.

About Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central New York: Ronald McDonald House Charities of CNY operates the 16-bedroom CNY Ronald McDonald House 24-hours a day, year-round as a “home away from home” for families whose children are hospitalized with serious illnesses or injuries. RMHC of CNY is building a new, larger Ronald McDonald House that will allow the organization to help keep even more families with seriously ill children together. For more information or to donate, visit www.cnyronaldmcdonaldhouse.org.

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