Over 20 contractors attended the September 16th Build-A-Pondless Waterfall Day to benefit the Ronald McDonald House Eastern Ontario in Ottawa.
All the materials were donated, including the pond kit (The Pond Centre), the rocks (Canlock Stone), the irrigation (Greenscape Watering Systems), the excavation (Garden Creations of Ottawa Ltd.) and the lunch (Ottawa Chapter of LO). Volunteers from local businesses provided the manpower.
Also part of the festivities, the Ottawa Chapter Barbecue and Social, attracted over 70 people.
A regular contributor to the Ronald McDonald House, the Ottawa Chapter knows what the organization gives to the families of hosptalized children. Below is a poem written in honour of what the chapter has given to the Ronald McDonald House.
Special friends that know how you feel
To install a flowing brook
Venture to the back of the home
In the office, the staff is busy
Everyday the house is cleaned
The house that love built?
Yes indeed
The place you go
When you’re in need
That close to home feeling
Where your presence is sealed
With love and caring from companies and staff
Like the People who dug
And moved all that grass
If you haven’t seen it
Take a look
And take a long walk about
You may see a garden gnome
It’s peaceful there on the covered deck
Enjoy the site, read a book
The bunnies may come, the birds may peck
Children playing in the courtyard
All the outside toys
To keep them entertained is not hard
We have a chat with our special friends
While we sit and relax
This place is a Godsend
In the kitchen, another group cooking
Dinner and dessert
A plate worth booking
Booking rooms, arranging funds
They won’t let you get in a tizzy
If you forget something not to worry
A blow-dryer? A brush?
They’ll help in a hurry
This helps us out
I walk in and the cleaners beamed
“How is our son today?”
They ask each time
“Thank you for asking-he’s not bad,” I say
Ronald McDonald House
The house that love built?
Yes Indeed
The only place to be
When you’re in need
