A “home away from home” that always has freshly baked cookies and a home cooked meal, the Ronald McDonald House of Western Michigan (RMHWM) provides residency for families traveling to the Grand Rapids area for their child’s medical or mental health treatments.
After volunteering at RMHWM for our annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service, Smith Haughey decided to make the organization the recipient of our Final Friday Jeans Day fundraiser for the month of January.
The first Ronald McDonald house to open was in Philadelphia in 1974, and now the organization has grown to provide more than 350 licensed houses to families around the world – all with the same mission of “creating a comfortable place for families to stay together.”
RMHWM first opened its doors on March 23, 1990 and has grown to have a 90% occupancy rate. With 384 families served in 2015, today the organization annually serves over 450 families from across Michigan, the country and the world.
The guest families move in and out over extended periods of time, depending on their individual situations. While it cannot make the pain or treatments go away, RMHWM works to lessen the burdens families endure by providing the stability and resources they need to keep their child healthy and happy.
There are various opportunities available to help the RMHWM in its mission. The organization accepts donations and on-site volunteer opportunities are also available.
To learn more about the organization or different ways to get involved with RMHWM, visit http://www.rmhwesternmichigan.org/home or contact House Services Director, Megan Priester, at mpriester@rmhwesternmichigan.org or (616) 776-1300.