Three Cheers for Three Wishes for Ruby’s Residents

Ruby Kate Chitsey giving McDonald’s to an older gentleman
Credit: unknown

Ruby Kate Chitsey is not your typical teenager.

At 14, she has already created Three Wishes for Ruby’s Residents, a charity that provides elderly nursing home residents with simple gifts to stave off loneliness and isolation. Having already raised $400,000 since 2019, Three Wishes is a bona fide charity based in Harrison, Arkansas, with a youth-led Board of Directors.

According to CBS News, Ruby used to tag along with her mother, Amanda, a nurse who served several nursing homes in northwest Arkansas. Curious Ruby, with notepad in hand, asked local residents “If you could any three things, what would they be?”

“I thought people’d say money, houses, Lamborghinis,” Ruby noted.

When residents asked for smaller, everyday items like Vienna sausage and electric razors, however, she was surprised.

“Like, that’s all they wanted,” she said, “and I really decided that I needed to do something.”

Ruby Kate Chitsey, founder of Three Wishes for Ruby’s Residents
Credit: Amanda Chitsey

What she learned was that many of the patients have little money or family; in fact, many of them receive pocket money in the amount of $40 from the government for extras.

With such humble requests, Ruby began making their dreams come true.

Having already granted 25,000 wishes, Ruby has spread lots of joy and love. She also garnered some major attention and accolades; not only has she been named a top 20 finalist for Time Magazine’s Kid of the Year in 2022, but she was also named one of People’s “Ten Girls Changing the World.” In addition to having received coverage from ABC and CBS, she’s been profiled as a CNN Hero and a Fox Midnight Hero. Finally, she also received a Diana Award and has become a Barbie Role Model.

Those accomplishments are impressive, but it pales in comparison to how deep her contribution is felt by members of the community. Her outreach also includes a Three Wishes Community Center with beautiful murals and art, a Senior Pen Pal Project, a mobile library cart, and even a pen pal project for seniors.

If you’re interested in making a donation, you can visit her GoFundMe page or receive email updates by subscribing here.