Many people become teachers because they have a passion for educating and inspiring others and that passion does not cease to exist upon retirement.
“We are retired, but we continue to reach out and improve the lives of children through community outreach. We have several organizations that we back,” said Kathy Hodecker, president of the Monmouth County Retired Educators Association (MCREA) and a former teacher at Holmdel High School.
The retired educators often work on PRIDE in Public Education activities through the Monmouth County Educators Association (MCEA) and the New Jersey Education Association (NJEA).
PRIDE in Public Education is an NJEA campaign that shares the successes of New Jersey’s public schools while building community support and involvement, according to the NJEA website.
Recently, the members of the MCREA found out that a room at the Ronald McDonald House in Long Branch needed to be refurbished.
The Ronald McDonald House in Long Branch is part of the Ronald McDonald House Charities. The Long Branch residence was founded in 1987 and is next to Monmouth Medical Center.
The Ronald McDonald House is designed to help alleviate the stress families experience when a loved one is hospitalized by offering a stress-free, home-like environment. The home’s guest rooms are available to the families of children up to age 21 who live a minimum of 10 miles outside the houses’ location.
Liz Jones was a retired art teacher from the Howell K-8 School District and a 1972 graduate of Howell High School. Before she died in June she helped knit two Dr. Seuss inspired quilts for the Ronald McDonald House. The quilts were designed by Hodecker. The retired educators also made two pillow cases inspired by “The Cat in the Hat.”
The Dr. Seuss inspired room at the Ronald McDonald House is named WhimZiKal.
Family members of or a child who is receiving treatment at Monmouth Medical Center generally stay in the room, said Tricia Weaver, the house manager at Ronald McDonald House.
Sue Shrott, the hospitality chair of the MCREA and a former teacher at Freehold High School, Freehold Borough, said projects like the WhimZiKal room are a way for educators to remain active after they retire.
The association’s ongoing community outreach projects include collections for local food banks, providing school supplies for students and collecting toys for children through Bridges at the Shore, a group of volunteers who service the needs of homeless individuals and families in need.
The MCREA also buys, prepares and serves a monthly lunch at the Bayshore Lunch Program. In the new year, the association’s members may become involved with Habitat for Humanity, which builds homes for working families.
