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Ronald McDonald House supports families during hard times Jessica Golden | Staff Reporter
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Photos courtesy of Stephanie Merrill
nyone who has ever seen a commercial for St. Jude Children’s Hospital knows how heartbreaking it is when a child is faced with life-threatening illness. For families, the stress can be overwhelming. But charities exist that support patients and their families through hardship. The Ronald McDonald House is a facility for families with children that need medical attention at Jacksonville’s major pediatric institutes, such as Wolfson Children’s Hospital, Nemours Children’s Specialty Care, UF Health Jacksonville, Brooks Rehabilitation and the UF Proton Therapy Institute. The Ronald McDonald House started when cofounder Dr. Audrey Evans was working at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia as a pediatric oncologist. She saw the families of children receiving treatment living out of waiting rooms and cars. Evans recognized a need for a supportive place to stay for the families who are working to support their children with health issues. The first Ronald McDonald House was founded in
Philadelphia, Pa. on Oct. 15, 1974. There are currently 350 houses nationwide. The first Ronald McDonald House in Jacksonville opened in November 1988 as a 10-bedroom house across the street from UF Health. The location was moved to San Marco in 2001, and now has 53 rooms, allowing for more space for the kitchen, rooftop garden and laundry facilities. Families temporarily residing at the Ronald McDonald House are able to come and go as they please, with the facility operating more like a “home away from home” than a hotel. These families have access to a pantry full of food and meals provided by volunteers, and they do not have to cook or clean. In this way, they simply stay there and the rest is taken care of for them by volunteers all around Jacksonville. Families can enjoy indoor and outdoor play areas and often receive donated tickets to the zoo, MOSH and other local fun activities. Families have access to free transportation to whichever hospitals they need to visit. The facility even has a dog!
Anchor Club members in 2018 chop up carrots to prep their monthly dinner.
In order for the Ronald McDonald House to continue its mission, they rely on donations and volunteers to keep them afloat. The Anchor Club at BK has volunteered at Ronald McDonald House for more than a decade and currently helps as meal makers for family
Members of the 2018 Anchor Club pose under the Christmas archway after volunteering at the Ronald McDonald House.
dinners at the facility. “Anchor Club plans and cooks dinner for all of the residents every month,” Anchor Club sponsor Stephanie Merrill said. “By taking care of these basic needs, children and their families can focus their attention on getting better.” Anchors also volunteer at the annual Light Up the House Campaign and 5K in December. Club members help with registration, face painting, snacks and games at this annual fundraising event. “We are working to figure out ways that we can help during the pandemic and are planning on making ‘busy bags’ [filled with] small games and snacks for the children staying there,” Merrill said. Anyone wishing to volunteer to help families of sick children should visit https://rmhcjacksonville.org/ how-you-can-help/volunteer/ to view available opportunities. FEATURES • ISSUE 1
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