Ronald McDonald Family Rooms: A Haven Within The Hospital
A Ronald McDonald Family Room is an area
set aside inside a hospital serving pediatric patients intended to serve as a
quiet rest area for family members of children admitted to the hospital for
treatment. It replicates a home-like atmosphere when a parent needs a break
from the “hospital environment.” Our Family Room will be equipped with a
kitchen, shower facilities just outside the room, a dining area, and an area for
reading, conversation, or watching TV. When a child is critically ill, parents
are reluctant to leave the hospital. Yet they desperately need a break from the
ongoing stress of beeping monitors and busy intensive care units. A Ronald
McDonald Family Room offers a special place of respite, relaxation, and privacy
within the walls of a hospital. It provides a small oasis of calm and normalcy
amidst the tense, chaotic, hospital setting – yet parents are just steps from
their child’s bedside.
A Ronald McDonald Family Room furthers the mission of Ronald McDonald House Charities extending the RMHC hallmark of care and comfort. While a Ronald McDonald House generally services families who travel far from home for medical care, a Family Room can serve dual roles. Families staying at a House, even if it’s just across the street from the hospital, often welcome the opportunity to grab a quick snack or just close their eyes for a few moments without leaving the hospital. The Family Room also serves local families who may live near the medical facility but do not want to leave the hospital for a meal or a shower.
Ronald McDonald Family Room at Providence Memorial Hospital
Services include:
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A comfortable seating area for guests
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Coffee, tea and non-alcoholic beverages
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Light snacks including fresh baked cookies, sandwiches, and snacks
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A library of reading materials
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Kitchen and dining areas
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Private bathroom with shower facilities (just outside the room)
Ronald McDonald House Charities of El Paso is excited to announce the opening of our first Ronald McDonald Family Room located on the 3rd floor of Providence Hospital behind the Schuster Tower Elevators.
We are actively recruiting volunteers who would be interested in providing a special place within the medical center where families can relax and escape the stress and tensions from the hospital environment while still being close to their children. Family Room Volunteers are asked to make a commitment for a period of one year. Weekly volunteers are scheduled to work a four hour shift each week. The Family Room is open 365 days a year 9am - 9pm. Volunteer shifts are scheduled from 9am - 1pm, 1pm - 5pm, and 5pm - 9pm. All volunteers will be required to attend a 3-hour Ronald McDonald Family Room that includes training required by Providence Hospital. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer for the Family Room please download and complete both volunteer applications below. Volunteers will be required to receive a health screening at Providence hospital at no charge.
Looking for a way for your local group or business to get involved at the Family Room? Consider becoming a Community Service Partner committing your group to sponsor volunteers for 1 day a month at the Family Room. Please call Tami Matos for more information (915) 542-1522.
Family Room Volunteer Job Description
Can't volunteer your time? The Family Room also needs supplies to help keep families comfortable when they visit. Please see our wish list below for items needed in the Family Room.
Important Facts
- Families of critically ill children can use the Ronald McDonald Family Room to rest, take showers, grab a bite to eat and even do laundry.
- The first Ronald McDonald Family Room opened in 1992. Today, there are more than 100 Family Rooms in 11 countries: Australia, Guatemala, Netherlands, New Zealand, Russia, Switzerland, Taiwan, Turkey, the United Kingdom, Japan and the United States
