Ronald McDonald Central House

Whenever possible I try to visit the various Ronald McDonald Houses in the Bay area and donate some of my time to this worthy cause. The mission of the Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) is to provide a sanctuary for a sick or injured child by surrounding them with their family members and an amazing staff of healthcare workers.
I cannot possibly imagine the agony of a parent being told that their child has cancer or a rare blood disorder; nor can I imagine these innocent young kids having to struggle to survive and heal when they don’t understand what is happening to them.
Many families travel far from home and spend several weeks or months to get treatment for their seriously ill or injured children — a long time to be away or to divide a family. And, for children facing a serious medical crisis, nothing seems scarier than not having mom and dad close by for love and support. A Ronald McDonald House is that «home-​away-​from-​home» for families so they can stay close by their hospitalized child at little or no cost.
The Ronald McDonald houses are built on the simple idea that nothing else should matter when a family is focused on the health of their child — not where they can afford to stay, where they will get their next meal or where they will lay their head at night to rest. They believe that when a child is hospitalized, the love and support of family is as powerful as the strongest medicine prescribed.
At every house, families can enjoy home-​cooked meals, private bedrooms, and playrooms for their children. It is the generosity of volunteers and donors who make it all possible for the more than 7 million children and their families who are helped each year. In return, families either stay at no cost or are asked to make a donation up to $ 25 per day, depending on the House. The RMHC Global Policy is that families are never turned away; if it’s not possible to pay, then the fee is waived.
Volunteers and corporate partners make the difference in the lives of all the families that come through their doors — cooking, hosting, listening, nurturing, or by simply being there and helping out in any way they can.
On this particular day I was on a tour and stopped inside the Ronald McDonald House to see some of the youngsters resting and playing in between their treatments. I was seated on a bench inside, and a little guy came over and hopped up next to me. He just looked at me and smiled, and said «Hi, will you play with me?». Wow, what a powerful moment!
I encourage all of you to gather a group of people and go to one of these amazing places. Offer to help cook a meal, or just spend some time with the kids and their families. Donate your time, maybe some of your funds, or just sit on the floor and read a child a story. You’ll walk away a changed person, and you will have made the difference in the life of a child.

Words cannot describe what this place meant to me and my family during our most difficult time in our lives. During our almost 3 month stay while my baby was in the NICU, this place provided meals, a cozy, safe place to crash (though I slept on a chair in my child’s room most nights), shower, cry, pray and meet other parents in similar circumstance. The staff is amazing. It made me believe that even amongst the money-​hunger evil in the world, there are still some compassionate, kind souls.

When a family has a severely ill child, Ronald McDonald Houses offer the families a safe, homey place to stay.