Imagine having a sick child.
Now, imagine having to travel, with your family, to another town, another city, maybe even another province, to get the proper medical care for your child. Now imagine in addition to all the stresses of hospital visits, tests, procedures and surgeries, having to worry about the cost of food and shelter.
Now, imagine having an organization, a charity, a place, a family to worry about these stresses FOR YOU. Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) does just this. Each of the 12 Ronald McDonald Houses across Canada provides a home away from home for families of seriously ill children who are being treated at nearby children’s hospitals.
They offer families a warm, compassionate and comfortable home environment for only $10 a day. It is a place where families can be together and share experiences with others who are just like them.
If I had to sum up our visit to the Ronald McDonald House of Southwestern Ontario, in London in one word, it would be: HOME. From the moment I walked through the front doors, I felt at home. It had everything you’d imagine in a home, including a kitchen, a laundry room, a family room and a backyard. And yet, it almost felt like it provided more than merely the comforts of home.
Through the big hearts of the staff and the volunteers, families have a shoulder to cry on when they need it and their own space to be alone. I was blown away by stories of college students who donated their time and money to create a merry Christmas and by the volunteers who, through the ‘Dinner at our House’ program, come in and cook a home-cooked meal for the entire house almost every single night of the week.
I walked out of the house wanting, NEEDING to help. I want to buy more Happy Meals (did you know that 10 cents from every Happy Meal goes to Ronald McDonald House Charities?) I want to donate books. I want to donate my time and my energy. I am a mother and I have three children. Thankfully, I don’t need the help of a Ronald McDonald House but I am so comforted to know that it’s there if I ever needed it.
I would like to thank the families, staff, volunteers, and RMH in London for allowing us inside RMH to share the stories and let us be a part of the RMH experience. Thank you again.
I watched the video clip of you touring the Ronald McDonald’s house from a few weeks back. It left me wanting to know about the charity. I grew up hearing about the Ronald McDonald’s house but not really understanding what it was. It sounds like a phenomenal charity. One that really touched your heart.