Keeping Families Close
It doesn’t take long when you walk through the doors of Ronald McDonald House® of Washington, DC to feel at home. Greeted with kind smiles, heartfelt words of encouragement, and children’s artwork covering the walls, you’re enveloped by a feeling of hope and sense of warmth, mere footsteps away from the hospital.
Ronald McDonald House of Washington, DC is one of two Ronald McDonald House programs the Ronald McDonald House Charities® of Greater Washington, DC (RMHCDC) offers families facing the hardship of children’s illness. For those navigating long-term hospital stays and the accompanying expenses, Ronald McDonald House programs ease the everyday burdens of caretakers with home-cooked meals, accommodations close to medical facilities, and more.
Home Away from Home
Ronald McDonald Houses provide much more than a place to stay; they provide comfort, support, and resources for families with sick children close to the hospital.
“The entire family needs comfort and support, together and near medical care.” Kymberly Wolff, President and CEO, explains, “At Ronald McDonald House, we provide access to quality health care and enable family-centered care at no cost, for as long as families need.”
The staff works closely with guest families to establish a sense of normalcy during their stay. Movie nights and book nooks, craft activities and monthly birthday celebrations, the RMHCDC team balances moments of joy and routine throughout the year for children of all ages. Whether it is the seasonally-themed bulletin boards that Celia Holland, the longest tenured employee, carefully decorates, or the high-fives Andrew Crisostomo, Senior Operations Manager, doles out as families head to their appointments, it is clear the program offers more than just a place to sleep.
“The staff is patient, loving, and they genuinely care for each person as if they were their own family member,” Missy Alexander emphasized. When Missy and her husband, Joe, stayed during their daughter’s treatments, the team even welcomed her elderly relative who was under the family’s care at the time. “Without question, they opened their arms and doors for all of us, which was a huge relief during one of our most challenging times,” she recalled.
In addition to their House program, RMHCDC operates a Ronald McDonald Hospitality Cart, or “Cart with a Heart,” making pediatric care options more accessible to the community.
“Ronald McDonald House is incredibly special,” Andrea Abramowitz, CEO of Kayla Cares 4 Kids noted, “not only is it a nurturing environment for families going through their hardest times, but they have amazing volunteers helping in many capacities and infusing laughter every day.”
First becoming aware of the program when her three children faced chronic medical illnesses, Andrea is one of many guest family members who has found a larger sense of community with the program. She routinely finds time to stay connected with the network, taking advantage of the countless ways to get involved – from cooking weekly meals, donating Wish List items, and creating Care Kits.
“There is a sense of pride and joy to be part of the Ronald McDonald House family,” Joshua Banks shares before lacing up for the annual Red Shoe 5k, “You can look around and see the heart of their work in the families, friends, and volunteers that consistently show up.”
As RMHCDC looks to the future, the organization aims to expand their community – providing support to more families across DC, Maryland, and Virginia with equitable health access, resources, and a true home away from home when it is needed most.
To learn more visit www.rmhcdc.org.
