In the spirit of Christmas, HSI El Paso intelligence research specialist gives back to community

While many of her colleagues and people all over the world were ringing in 2015 with family, friends, champagne and fireworks, Sharon Gahan, Intelligence Research Specialist for HSI El Paso, Texas, rang in the new year giving of herself.

With a little help from her friends and co-workers, Ms. Gahan organized a New Year’s Eve dinner and party for the residents at the Ronald McDonald House.

That said, the petite mother of one, known in the office for her go-getter attitude, set out to give back to her community. She contacted the Ronald McDonald House and found out that the residents didn’t have any plans for New Year’s Eve.

Program Director Rachel Garcia was thrilled to hear that someone wanted to host a party for the residents. Not once in the 31 years the House has been in operation, had anyone offered to treat the residents to any kind of celebration.

The mission of Ronald McDonald House Charities of El Paso is to provide a home away from home to families of seriously ill children receiving medical care in El Paso. It is dedicated to find and support programs that directly improve the health of children in the border region - far west Texas, southern New Mexico and northern Mexico. “The core of everything we do revolves around the concept of ‘helping children heal’,” according to its website.

But no one had ever considered that the parents and siblings of the ill children are also in need of healing and a respite.

More determined than ever, Ms. Gahan contacted the owner of a local Italian restaurant to pitch her good cause. Eddie Davis of Nuovo Cappetto’s agreed to cater the event for nearly 30 people at half price.

But she didn’t stop there.

Ms. Gahan also reached out to I Painted That! Social Art studio, whose local artists lead groups of unexperienced painters stroke by stroke to create their own works of art.

“I had previously attended a painting session at I Painted That! Social Art studio, and thought that would be the perfect activity to bring to the residents at the Ronald McDonald House,” she said.

She polished her pitch and spoke to one of the studio artists. After explaining her charitable idea – more than once, the artist agreed to take her easels, canvases, paint, and painting supplies on site at no cost.

She also gave Ms. Gahan a substantial discount for each participant. “I looked through the paintings on file, and fell for one title, ’The Infinity Road,’ a painting by a local artist. I felt that it was symbolic of the place where they (residents) are in their lives given their various circumstances,” she said.

But no New Year’s celebration is complete without party hats, favors and decorations, and Ms. Gahan thought of that as well.

In the course of planning the dinner party, Ms. Gahan mentioned it to a few of her good friends and co-workers, who quickly offered to help. Special Agents Leslie Gambee, Robin Viera, and Intelligence Research Specialist Jim Vitale and his son, Nico Vitale, joined that cause. Some of them picked up drinks, desserts, and helped set up the spread and serve the residents.

The majority of the 25 residents at the House that evening were parents whose children are either in the neo-natal intensive care unit or receiving cancer treatment at El Paso hospitals. The families were from New Mexico, Texas and Mexico.

“The residents were thrilled! They kept thanking us and saying how nice it was to be treated to such an evening,” she said. “With recording artist Michael Buble playing on the radio in the background, we served the residents, visited and painted into the New Year!”

Ms. Gahan said the painting session was therapeutic for many of the residents, who appeared calm and in great spirits throughout the two and a half-hour long session. One of the parents shared her story with everyone. She talked about her premature baby, who was born more than five months ago. She said she hoped he would be released from the hospital soon after overcoming major health complications. She said her and her husband both are school teachers in New Mexico and have taken a leave of absence to be with their son - their first child - while he recovers. She allowed everyone to watch her baby live on a video stream from the hospital.

“We toasted to the New Year with sparkling grape juice.” said Ms. Gahan. “I didn’t expect any kind of attention for doing this. That’s for sure.”