Act of kindness surprises families staying at Ottawa’s Ronald McDonald House for Easter

Connie LeBrun makes a special delivery at Ronald McDonald House at CHEO ahead of Easter. CTV’s Peter Szperling reports.

An Ottawa-area woman, with the help of a mystery donor, is making Easter a little more special for families staying at Ronald McDonald House.

Once a month, Connie Lebrun donates custom gift baskets to various charities and organizations as part of “random acts of kindness.”

After seeing a social media post about items in need to fill their pantry, Lebrun knew who this months’ recipient would be.

“It’s a fantastic place,” she tells CTV News Ottawa. “They’re there every single day for the families that are coming through.”

Wednesday morning, she stopped by Ronald McDonald House in Ottawa to donate items not just to fill the pantry, but also for Easter Dinner. “Ham, potatoes, carrots, apple pies and treats for the kids,” she says.

She says the cost of the items donated is approximately $660.

Lebrun operates “Connie’s Custom Gifts,” and with the help of a client who wishes to remain anonymous, she’s donated to a recipient each month.

“I wish he was here today, but he wishes to be anonymous right now,” Lebrun said.

“This just blows my mind,” says father B.J. Babin. His family is staying at Ronald McDonald house as their 10-year-old son undergoes treatment at CHEO, including chemotherapy. “This is the greatest place you never want to be. Allows us to be within steps away.”

Ronald McDonald House is for out-of-town families who are undergoing treatment, care, or appointments at CHEO. Babin and his family are from the North Bay, Ont. area, an approximately four-hour drive.

Wednesday’s donation will fill Ronald McDonald House’s pantry with snacks and treats.

“it’s absolutely amazing. Connie Lebrun has really outdone herself this this time with all the snacks and the dinner for our families,” says Carol Harper, Ronald McDonald House’s director of operations and house manager.

“We have a full house. We have 14 families that will be here this weekend. We are their home away from home as long as they need us, but especially during the holidays. It’s always nice to be with your home and enjoy all the festivities that go along with the holiday weekends,” she says.

Harper says Ronald McDonald House is undergoing construction to expand capacity to 36 families.

“We’re at 100 per cent capacity with close to 30 families on our waiting list, so we need the bigger house as soon as we can get it.”

This isn’t Lebrun’s first time donating to Ronald McDonald House. She says she’s previously donated gifts during other holidays like Halloween and Christmas.

Lebrun says next month she will be visiting a long-term care home for Mother’s Day with gift baskets.