Three Wishes for Ruby’s Residents

Harrison teen brings joy to seniors

Among the many things we have to be grateful for this season are those rare individuals who have made it their life’s mission to help others. It is hard to find anyone more worthy than young Ruby Kate Chitsey of Harrison.

Ruby was named a CNN Heroes Young Wonder of 2022 and a Time magazine’s Kid of the Year finalist in 2022. She was also listed in People magazine’s Girls Changing the World in 2020 and was named a Barbie Role Model in Mattel’s 202021 tour of female leaders.

Ruby began her journey of compassion six years ago, when she was just 10 years old. She now a sophomore at Valley Springs High School. In spite of the awards, recognition and accomplishments, she insists she is “just like everyone else.”

The 16-year-old is the founder and CEO of Three Wishes for Ruby’s Residents, a nonprofit with the mission of making wishes come true for nursing home residents who are “low on family, happiness or funds” across America, according to the charity’s website 3wishesproject.org.

Ruby’s mother, Amanda Chitsey, is the president of the nonprofit.

“Three Wishes is a really unique nonprofit organization that is youth-led and fulfills small wishes for nursing home seniors across America,” Amanda said. “We use the word ‘nursing home,’ but we also help seniors who live in assisted living, retirement homes and low-income apartments.”

She explained how the concept for Three Wishes for Ruby’s Residents was conceived.

“Ruby was homeschooled and she went to work with me a lot,” Amanda explained. “I run a business that has put me in nursing homes as a health care professional for 25 years.”

One day, while at a nursing home with her mom, Ruby met a resident named Pearl who was missing her dog. Ruby asked to use the money in her piggy bank to pay a pet sitter to bring the dog for visits with Pearl.

“Then, in 2018, we learned what a ‘personal spending allowance’ meant,” Amanda added. “In Arkansas, the personal spending allowance for residents who live in a nursing home is $40 a month. It’s been $40 a month in the state of Arkansas since 1999, and hasn’t gone up a dollar.”

That $40 has to pay for everything that that a resident needs – personal expenses such as haircuts, shoes and clothing, cell phone and cable service, even snacks. Right now, a haircut costs $18 in a nursing home, nearly half of the personal spending allowance.

After she learned about the personal spending allowance, Ruby was not about to sit back and not try to help.

“Ruby went up to a resident and just said, ‘If I could bring you any three things, what would they be?” Amanda recalled. “She told me that she was going to do this, and I thought it was terrible idea because I was sure they would ask for cars, money or very expensive items. I said, ‘Please don’t do that.’”

But Ruby did it anyway, and came back with a notebook filled with wishes from the residents.

“I looked at the list and the first resident was a senior named Ronnie, and all he wanted was a pair of pants that fit,” Amanda said. “I had known Ronnie for 19 years at that point, but I never noticed that his pants didn’t fit. I took care of his medical needs, but never noticed his pants. He also loved Vienna sausage and Funyuns, but he didn’t have the money or the access to get those things. The entire notebook was filled with these $2 items and $10 items that I could just go buy at Walmart. And that’s exactly what we did. We bought every single thing on that list.”

That was five years ago, and since then Ruby’s nonprofit has spent over $500,000 to help nursing home residents, raised awareness and taught kids across America how they can give back, too.

Ruby’s been called “America’s granddaughter” for all the love and kindness she has brought to seniors.

“She has spoken in California, Florida and Pennsylvania,” Amanda said. “She’s been a keynote speaker at conferences, letting everyone know what a personal spending allowance is and what we can do as humans and kids and community members to make life a little bit better for these folks.”