Ronald McDonald House Charities Canada helps give sick children what they need most – their families
To tell the full story, it starts when a child is diagnosed with a serious illness or injury. The world stops in an instant, and nothing matters but healing that child. To get the medical attention required to heal their child, a family must often travel far from home. They may be required to stay days, weeks or even months for medical tests and treatments. Repeat visits may be necessary. And for some families, their stay at a House gives them final moments and memories that last a lifetime.
During this most difficult time, parents not only struggle to support their sick child; they have to care for their other children, keep their jobs, pay bills, and manage the responsibilities of everyday life. With so much to balance, they shouldn’t have to worry about anything else.
This is where: Ronald McDonald Houses come in to provide a home away from home for the families of seriously ill children who are staying at a nearby hospital. Our Houses offer families so much more than just a roof over their heads. They have qualified staff and dedicated volunteers who are committed to taking care of the day-to-day essentials of running a home, so families don’t have to worry about them. They have programs that offer everything from education to meditation. And they are filled with many different families who all share a common bond – love for their sick child.
Some of the Ronald McDonald Houses also operate a Ronald McDonald Family Room within the walls of partnering hospitals. These are spaces that allow for peace and calm away from the beeps and pressures of the hospital, while still letting parents be just steps away from their child.
Today, there are 14 Houses from coast to coast and six Family Rooms. At Ronald McDonald House Charities Canada, we are the overarching organization that supports this network of Houses and Family Rooms.
While our Houses offer 10,000 Canadian families each year a place to stay during their most difficult times, many have to turn families away due to lack of space. To decrease our turn-away rates and to meet the ever-present demand, we’re expanding our House and Family Room network.
By 2014, Ronald McDonald Houses will be able to accommodate 465 families each night – more than twice what was available in 2010.
Thanks to you – and the ongoing support of our many partners and donors – we are able to make this tremendous growth possible.