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The Ronald
McDonald House

Family Dinners

 

 

Thank you for considering our Family Dinner Program!

 

The Ronald McDonald House of the Ozarks has now entered its 16th year of providing hope and comfort for families of seriously ill or injured children. We have provided a "home away from home" for over 6,600 families from all over the Ozarks and beyond. As we continue helping families, we'd like to include you in the successful growth of a special program.

Many of our parents do not take the time to prepare adequate meals because it is additional time that they will be away from their sick child or infant. This being one of the most stressful situations they will ever endure makes it even more important to eat at least one good meal a day. For this reason, we started our "Family Dinner Program". Our goal is for our families to relax and enjoy an evening meal at the Ronald McDonald House every night of the week. With help from people like you, this crucial need will be closer to becoming a reality for our families.

These meals can be prepared at the House or brought in ready to eat. They can have a casual feel or the format of a sit down dinner. It's all up to the person or group involved in planning and preparing the meal. Would you be interested in adopting a Family Dinner Night at the Ronald McDonald House? This project not only allows you to do something outstanding to help others in need, but also gives you and your friends, family or fellow employees the fun, rewarding volunteer experience that you and they have been looking for.

It's easy! You or your group provide the groceries for these meals. The food can be prepared at the Ronald McDonald House or outside the House and brought in. You can eat with the families to offer not only a delicious, hot, home cooked meal, but also the fellowship of kind words and support to these parents. If you're not certain what to do with the leftovers, they are always a welcome sight to those who stay late at the hospital (our kitchen is usually pretty busy between 10 p.m. and midnight). In 2006, dinner was provided nearly 100% of evenings. Our families truly appreciate the home cooked meals and the fellowship of those who provide dinners.

 

If you would like to schedule a dinner or if you have any questions, please contact Donnetta Ghys at 875-3501 or by e-mail at donnetta.ghys@ronaldmcdonaldhouse.org.

 

Guidelines for Family Dinners

1. Please limit the size of your group to no more than 8 -10 people. This will ensure a favorable experience for your organization as well as the Ronald McDonald House families. If there are several people from your business or church that are interested, break them up into small groups.

 

2. All children/teens must be accompanied by adult sponsors at least one adult per five children.

 

3. Please remind your participants that they should not come if they have a fever, are not feeling well or think they may have been exposed to a communicable disease (example: chicken pox). An exposure could be very harmful to immunosuppressed children.

4. Food can be prepared outside the Ronald House or at the Ronald House. Food may also be purchased already cooked and other items added to it to make a meal, such as fried chicken, pizza, etc. Please no spaghetti dinners - this is something that can be fixed quickly by the families and is eaten very often.

5. When scheduling a dinner, it is best to plan to begin serving sometime between 6:15 and 6:30. Some groups prefer to set the tables and serve the families while others set the food out buffet-style and allow them to walk through and serve themselves.

6. Please realize that hospital schedules and patient treatment times vary. We never know an exact number of people that will be eating and can only give you an estimate(approximately 15 to 20 people). It is helpful to call and confirm this estimate count a few days ahead.

7. Our double kitchen is well stocked with dishes, glasses, pots & pans, and utensils. We also have a gas grill on our back deck if grilling is something your group may enjoy.

8. You are also responsible for clean up. If you would like to prepare a meal, but do not have the manpower to help serve and clean up, please let us know and we may be able to coordinate efforts with one of our Assistant Managers.

Scheduling Options

A. One time preparation of a dinner.
B. One dinner per quarter.
C. One dinner per month.
D. One dinner per week.