Than A Place To Stay - Ronald McDonald House

Our programs
Meal Program Helps Nourish Families
Volunteers Provide Hope and Care Through Preparing Meals
Volunteers make and serve dinner for families
at least 4 times a week. They provide
meals for 75 people in House A and 25
people in House C.
Recipe Book Created by and for Meal Program Volunteers
Contains Over 90 Recipes for Large Groups
Ask almost any family at the House what they appreciate
the most about being here, and the Meal Program is always
mentioned. At least 4 nights a week, and often more,
volunteer groups of friends or co-workers come into the
House and prepare homemade meals for the families to enjoy.
Volunteer kitchen supervisors devote their time to helping get
the groups started and ensure things run smoothly. A complete
and nutritious meal is always on the menu and includes
a main dish, vegetables, sides and, much to the children’s
delight, dessert. Always dessert!
These dinners are especially important to the families because
many times they have spent long and grueling days at the
hospital or are exhausted from medical appointments.
Providing a warm meal to their family is understandably the
last thing on their minds, yet vitally important to staying
healthy themselves. Families marvel at this tangible evidence
of our community’s caring. “The volunteers who cook the
dinners – they are always so kind and polite. The meals are
really wonderful and very, very much appreciated, especially
after 12-hour days in the hospital,” say Phillip and Jennifer,
parents of 3-year-old Luke.
Volunteer participation in the Meal Program has increased
year by year from its modest yet meaningful beginning. "We
started with 20 dinners per year in House C," remembers Judy
Adams, Manager of Volunteer Services. "Now our goal is to
serve dinners 5 nights per week in both House A and C."
Whether they get to eat at mealtime or come in later to find
leftovers, families are extremely grateful for the dinners. "A lot
of times, if those dinners weren't provided, I wouldn't eat at
all." says a father.
From Ambrosia to Breakfast Burritos, Italian Chicken to Meatball Stroganoff Supreme,
the House's first recipe book aims to please palates, provide nutrition and help the
dinner groups tackle the important task of cooking for large groups with ease.
In addition to recipes, the book includes quantity conversions, kitchen and work flow
charts and other helpful information. The families and staff of the House extend our
warmest thanks to the volunteers who enable this valuable program to exist.
"One of my favorite parts of staying at the House is we get dessert every night!" Michael, age 6
Meal Program Recipe Book