Nonprofit Spotlight: Ronald McDonald House Charities of Tampa Bay

Ronald McDonald House Charities of Tampa Bay provides a "home-away-from home" for families whose children are receiving treatment from local hospitals, according to its website.

For this week's nonprofit spotlight, we talked to Marketing & Communications Manager Alison Barrick about the organization's purpose and how the community can get involved.

Patch: What is the goal/mission of the Ronald McDonald House?

Barrick: Ronald McDonald House Charities of Tampa Bay provides comfort, care and support to children and their families through the operation of core programs like the Ronald McDonald House, the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile, RMHC College Scholarships, and grants to other non-profit organizations that assist children.

The Ronald McDonald House® of Tampa Bay provides a home-away-from-home for families of pediatric patients in area hospitals.

Patch: What year was the organization founded? By who?

Barrick: I’m only going to reference Tampa Bay since we are a separate charity from our global organization, but I’m including the national story from our press kits for your reference.

1978 - McDonald’s introduces the idea of a Ronald McDonald House to All Children’s Hospital in St. Petersburg.

1980 - Suncoast Ronald McDonald House opens in St. Petersburg with 11 bedrooms. It is the 17th House to open nationwide and the first in Florida. The opening of a Ronald McDonald House was spearheaded by our Board of Trustees Chairman Ed Ameen, who was a McDonald’s Owner/Operator at that time. He is still our board chairman. Our name was changed in the 1980s to Ronald McDonald House Charities of Tampa Bay, Inc.

Patch: What are some of the activities that the organization facilitates?

Barrick: While our core program, Ronald McDonald House, consumes the majority of our time, we also have two other programs: the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile, managed by the USF Department of Pediatrics, and a scholarship program that awards 46 college scholarships to our surrounding 11 counties.

The Ronald McDonald House provides a home-away-from-home for families with children receiving treatment in area hospitals. Criteria for staying at one of the houses is based on distance driven, and has nothing to do with finances. In most cases, families live more than an hour’s distance drive from their child’s bedside. We serve families from all over the state of Florida, around the country and from all over the world.

Families at Ronald McDonald House are provided with a private bedroom and bath, nutritious home-cooked meals prepared by community groups, relaxation areas, computer access, laundry facilities, fenced backyards for their other children to play, and support from caring staff, volunteers and other families facing similar challenges. Some of the houses also have dog therapy, arts and crafts, bingo and massage therapy.

 Patch: Why is the organization important to communities like Northdale and Carrollwood?

Barrick: The Ronald McDonald House relies heavily on the community for support. As a volunteer-driven organization (only 21 staff and 300 volunteers), Ronald McDonald House provides a sense of belonging for many of these volunteers, encourages strong leadership and caring about others, and instilling (especially in kids) how important it is to give back and make a difference in the lives of others.

Many of our volunteers and community groups are from areas like Northdale and Carrollwood, bringing their friends and neighbors to create a homemade meal for our families, contributing items they have grown in their gardens, or getting together to raise money for the house from a garage sale or pantry drive. Ronald McDonald House is extremely grateful for all the support it receives from our generous Tampa Bay community, where it seems like everyone is involved with a charity.

We provide a place where the community comes together to support families when they need it most…at a stressful and difficult time in their lives while dealing with a sick or injured child. Sometimes they just need a hug, a smile or a caring word. We are thankful that we have so many wonderful people who give of their time to be there for these occasions.

Patch: How can the community get involved if they want to volunteer?

Barrick: Volunteers are the backbone of our organization. We have many volunteer opportunities to suit a busy schedule and preferences, whether serving as a House Volunteer, a Teen Volunteer, working with our Meal & Casserole Program or working as a Special Event Volunteer. We also have many opportunities for groups to do projects, please contact the Houses directly for a list of available projects. The Houses are staffed by volunteers from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. (9 p.m. in Tampa and St. Pete West House) and are always available for a tour.

Tampa House - located on Davis Islands at 35 Columbia Drive in Tampa - contact Maggie Somerville at (813) 254-2398, ext. 317 St. Pete East, West & Central Houses near ACH - contact Lise Fields at (727) 767-8166.