Page 100 - South Mississippi Living - December, 2016

GIVING BACK home away from home
Ronald cDonald House
LEFT: Ronald McDonald House guest Maaliyah takes a play break.
RIGHT: The RMHC Mobile recently had a ribbon cutting for their new family room.
story by Kelsey Sunderman-Foster photos courtesy of Ronald McDonald House
For families dealing with the sickness of a child, a home away from home can make all the difference. Since their doors opened 16 years ago, the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Mobile has been providing families with just that.
Located at the University of South Alabama Children’s & Women’s Hospital in Mobile, the Ronald McDonald House offers families a compassionate home environment and gives hope to families with seriously ill and injured children being treated at local hospitals. The Ronald McDonald House offers families the comforts of home, such as kitchen space, living areas and laundry facilities and gives them a much needed respite.
Since their expansion in 2011, the home is able to accommodate up to 38 families per night, with lengths of stay varying from a few days to months at a time. “With that expansion, we went from having 12 rooms to 38 rooms, and we haven’t had to turn down a family
since then,” said Mary McAleer, development director for Ronald McDonald House Charities of Mobile. “We also have two Ronald McDonald Family Rooms located inside USA Children’s & Women’s Hospital that help to take
care of our Mobile families. These rooms offer the parents some peace and quiet while also giving them a place to rest, shower and even wash their child’s favorite blanket.”
The Ronald McDonald House asks that families donate $12 per night for their stay, no family is turned away. The non-profit is fully supported by these donations paired with those of individuals, businesses and foundations. Since its origination, the Ronald McDonald House of Mobile has served nearly 7,000 families from both near and far.
Ronald McDonald House Charities of Mobile
1626 Springhill Ave., Mobile, AL 36604 251.694.6873 • www.rmhcmobile.org
BACOT/MCCARTY FOUNDATION
A Portion Of This Sponsorship Goes To Support Our Local Charities Along The Coast
WWW.BACOTMCCARTY.ORG
100 SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living • December 2016
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