This week on The Heartbeat, Ashley Harder gets to know several volunteers and leaders who make the world shine a little bit brighter through their work with the Ronald McDonald House Charities.

This holiday season, residents of the tri-state area participate in the Ronald McDonald House's "Send a Snowflake" campaign in support of critically ill children and their families.

SHREVEPORT, La. - Organizers now have most of the money they need to build a Ronald McDonald house in Shreveport. The foundation raised $8 million in just two years and they only have $2 million left to go. Organizers held a foundation signing today at the construction site and several donors attended.

A line of excited customers were outside the brand new Home Goods in Greenville that opened on Wednesday morning. The home department store opened their doors at 8 a.m. with a crew full of working greeting every customer as they came in.

This weekend, the holiday season will begin with a gift drive benefitting Ronald McDonald House of Southern New Jersey teens.

The Ronald McDonald House of Southern New Jersey is collecting gifts for kids who live in the Camden-based house. The gift drive will take place at the house's pop-up store called "the Holiday House" located at the Promenade at Sagemore in Marlton.