For more information on Sunshine on a Ranney Day and how to get involved, go to www.sunshineonaranneyday.com.
When Brandi Parker and her husband, Kristopher, learned that their son’s room was a going to receive a makeover, they were very grateful. The makeover was provided by Roswell-based Sunshine on a Ranney Day, a nonprofit that creates fun and uplifting dream-room makeovers for children with long-term illnesses.
The idea for SOARD came about when Holly Ranney, a buyer for Rooms to Go Kids, had an idea. “We get furniture samples and as the samples collected, I went to my boss to suggest we give the furniture to kids in need or who were ill.”
With approval from her boss, Ranney went to work and along with her husband, Pete, they launched Sunshine on a Ranney Day combining Holly’s love for interior design and Pete’s family line of builders to create memorable rooms for kids in need.
When the organization made over their first room for cancer patient Matthew Majeck, the Ranneys found out about handicap children who needed accessible homes. SOARD expanded its efforts to help families accommodate their children who needed handicap-friendly renovations such as wider hallways, accessible bathrooms, and more.
And Parker’s son, Karson, 6, is just one of the many children who has received a dream room that has changed the family’s life. He has mitochondrial disease which causes physical and cognitive delays putting him at risk as he moves about their Loganville home. “It was a risk for him to crawl around especially if he got into the kitchen,” shared Brandi. “It became hard from him to play with his brothers as we had to spend a lot of time following him making sure he would be safe.”
Through the help of SOARD volunteers, Karson received an extension on his bedroom, a handicap bathroom, and a half-wall around the kitchen. The home renovations have made all the difference to the family. “Our quality of life has improved so much, and he is so much happier,” said Brandi. “They all now play together and I am definitely more comfortable as he moves about the space.”
It is the same happiness and sentiment felt by the Parkers that continues to inspire the Ranneys to give back in such a big way.”There was no personal story that inspired us to start Sunshine on a Ranney Day,” said Holly. “Thinking back on it, we are young and had the ability to really help people. And so we did.”
Since 2012, the organization has provided eight makeovers including a complete home makeover for Tripp Halstead, the 2-year-old Barrow County boy severely injured by a falling limb last year.
In other news: Community spirit rocked both on and off the field of Lassiter on Oct. 27 when the 7th Grade Jr. Lassiter Trojans cheerleaders from Mabry Middle and Simpson Middle Schools led a successful community event. During the Jr. Lassiter football games, $160 was collected for Angels Among Us Pet Rescue and 80 cards were also created and sent to the troops at Troop Leatherneck in Afghanistan.
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