MercyOne: Ronald McDonald House Welcomes Families

New "home away from home" offers amenities to ease stress and enrich lives

By Sarah Todd, MercyOne Central Iowa

Families who bring their children to MercyOne Children’s Hospital in Des Moines have a new comfortable place to stay – all thanks to the opening of the new Ronald McDonald House.

Since 2011, MercyOne Children’s Hospital has been home to the state’s first Ronald McDonald Family Room, providing short term sleeping accommodations, kitchen access, a family room, laundry room and more. Last year, 325 families from across the state benefited while their children were hospitalized.

The new Ronald McDonald House, which opened this year, includes 14 bedroom suites, a full-size kitchen and dining room, laundry room, playroom and respite rooms. Families of patients who are 21 and under and are receiving treatment at MercyOne Children’s Hospital can stay at the House. Once a family is referred by a social worker, nurse, doctor or other health care provider, they can stay as long as their need exists. Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Iowa expects to serve approximately 750 families at the new House this year.

“The mission of the Ronald McDonald House is to enrich the quality of life for children and their families,” says Brenda Miller, executive director of Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Iowa. “We keep families close by providing a home away from home for families traveling to Des Moines to seek the critical medical care for their child that is not available in their home communities.”

One of the ways they help provide some of the comforts of home is an evening community meal. Families can go to the house at 6 p.m. each evening for a home-cooked meal. When the house opened to families in January, the first dinner was prepared by the Independent Order of Odd Fellows-Iowa. Their members prepared a beef pot roast, mashed potatoes, green beans and more – all from scratch – for the families who were moving in.

“The families were so appreciative of the time and work that went into their first meal in the House,” Miller says. “We welcome the support of individuals and groups to help prepare our evening meals, or to help stock our family pantry with snacks and self-serve food items.”

For more information about Ronald McDonald House at MercyOne Children’s Hospital, or ways you can help, visit MercyOne.org/rmh.

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