On a warm Monday morning in Phoenix, a group of Team U-Haul Volunteers came together to help with a rather unique need from charity partner, Ronald McDonald House Charities of Phoenix.

Ronald McDonald House Charities of Phoenix  is a facility that provides temporary housing for families that travel from all over the country to receive medical treatment for a child at pediatric centers in the Valley. The home was designed to help bring hope to families during these trying times and allow them a safe and comfortable place to stay for one night for a single appointment or much longer through treatment and recovery.

Over the years the facility has grown to serve more families. Today, the house can accommodate 45 families per day and includes a kitchen, playground and library. At the same time, however, the facility was in great need of a remodel. U-Haul partner, Phoenix International Raceway, through Phoenix Raceway Charities, generously granted a $500,000 renovation project for the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Phoenix. But before the remodel begun, the home had to be cleared. Who better to pack up a home for a renovation than Team U-Haul Volunteers!

That Monday morning, a U-Haul moving truck pulled up to the home carrying boxes and moving supplies. The truck was followed by a delivery of U-Box containers and Moving Help. The volunteer team gathered to get a quick tour of the facility and briefed on the duties for the day. Team U-Haul Volunteers rolled up their sleeves and got started on packing up the different rooms around the facilities to make way for the upcoming renovations. Books, dishes, wall hanging, and other smaller items were all packed up in boxes with care. Moving Help was on site to assist in moving larger furniture and storing them in U-Boxes during renovations.

In a short 3 hours the home was packed up and loaded in the U-Boxes for temporary storage at a nearby U-Haul storage facility. The 10-week project is expected to be completed in time for the Can-Am 500, the semifinal race in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship on Sunday, Nov. 13 at Phoenix International Raceway.

“I couldn’t believe how quickly Team U-Haul Volunteers packed up all the items,” said Jerry Diaz, Director of Development at RMHC of Phoenix. “We couldn’t have done this without the help of U-Haul!”

To learn more about U-Haul in the Community, click here.

What do you do to help your community?  Share with us in the comments.