RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE

HOME AWAY FROM HOME Ronald McDonald House supports families during hard times Jessica Golden | Staff Reporter

Anyone who has ever Philadelphia, Pa. on Oct. 15, seen a commercial 1974. There are currently 350 for St. Jude Children’s houses nationwide. The first Hospital knows how Ronald McDonald House heartbreaking it is when a child in Jacksonville opened is faced with life-threatening in November 1988 as a illness. For families, the stress 10-bedroom house across the can be overwhelming. But street from UF Health. The charities exist that support location was moved to San patients and their families Marco in 2001, and now has through hardship. 53 rooms, allowing for more

The Ronald McDonald space for the kitchen, rooftop House is a facility for families garden and laundry facilities. with children that need medical Families temporarily attention at Jacksonville’s residing at the Ronald major pediatric institutes, such McDonald House are able to as Wolfson Children’s Hospital, come and go as they please, Nemours Children’s Specialty with the facility operating Care, UF Health Jacksonville, more like a “home away from Brooks Rehabilitation and the home” than a hotel. These UF Proton Therapy Institute. families have access to a

The Ronald McDonald pantry full of food and meals House started when co- provided by volunteers, and founder Dr. Audrey Evans they do not have to cook or was working at The Children’s clean. In this way, they simply Hospital of Philadelphia as stay there and the rest is taken a pediatric oncologist. She care of for them by volunteers Anchor Club members in 2018 chop up carrots to prep their monthly dinner. saw the families of children all around Jacksonville. In order for the Ronald dinners at the facility. receiving treatment living out Families can enjoy indoor and McDonald House to continue “Anchor Club plans of waiting rooms and cars. outdoor play areas and often its mission, they rely on and cooks dinner for all of Evans recognized a need for receive donated tickets to the donations and volunteers to the residents every month,” a supportive place to stay for zoo, MOSH and other local keep them afloat. Anchor Club sponsor the families who are working fun activities. Families have The Anchor Club at BK Stephanie Merrill said. “By to support their children with access to free transportation has volunteered at Ronald taking care of these basic health issues. to whichever hospitals they McDonald House for more needs, children and their The first Ronald McDonald need to visit. The facility even than a decade and currently families can focus their House was founded in has a dog! helps as meal makers for family 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 Photos courtesy of Stephanie Merrill Members of the 2018 Anchor Club pose under the Christmas archway after volunteering at the Ronald McDonald House. 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.