Ronald McDonald House of Western Michigan
To provide a community supported facility and complimentary services whose dedicated staff and volunteers are committed to providing a safe, clean, and caring "Home Away from Home" for the families of pediatric patients.
Description:
The Ronald McDonald House of Western Michigan (RMHWM)
opened on March 23, 1990. The 19,000 square foot facility was designed specifically for use as a Ronald House. Located on five park-like acres, the House has seventeen bedrooms with private baths; two are isolation equipped and one is barrier free. Common rooms include a large family-style kitchen with four complete cooking areas, a dining room, great room with fireplace, sunroom overlooking backyard playground area and walking path, a toddler playroom, recreation room, and a quiet room when privacy and tranquility are needed.
The RMHWM registers over 600 families each year, many
coming in and out over an extended period of time. While guests arrive from counties throughout Michigan, other states, and even foreign countries, the majority are from Northwest Michigan.
Referrals are welcomed from all hospitals in Grand Rapids. DeVos Children's Hospital refers a high percentage of the total, including parents with premature babies in the neo-natal unit, children suffering from some type of cancer, children being admitted for surgeries, mothers with high risk pregnancies, and families whose children are being treated in the burn center. Mary Free Bed refers parents whose children are being treated for head injuries. Other hospitals who refer guests include Pine Rest, Forest View, St. Mary's and Grand Valley.
Amenities of the House include: free shuttle to and from medical facilities, free long distance phone cards, laundry facilities with free detergents; pagers, videos, books and a variety of baby care equipment available for check out on a day-to-day basis. Meals are often prepared by groups or
businesses on a monthly basis and our pantry is stocked with donated food and is free to our guests. A library provides books on various medical conditions, as well as fiction and inspirational topics.
Each guest room has a private phone line and voicemail. The fee for each room is a $10-20 donation per night. If families cannot afford to pay, no fee is charged. Third party billing is available.
History:
The first Ronald McDonald House opened in Philadelphia in 1974. Since then, 242 Houses have been licensed around the world, all with a common mission of providing a "home away from home" for the families of children needing care.
Contact person: Megan Priester, Volunteer Coordinator, (phone), (email)
Office fax number: (616) 776-0368
Address:
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1323 Cedar NEGrand Rapids, MI 49503(See a map) |
Web Site: http://www.wmrmh.org
Directions:
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We are located off of Fuller Ave, just South of Leonard and North of I-196. Cedar is a side street that crosses Fuller. We are east of Fuller on Cedar, just past Michigan Community Blood Center and Life. . . (more)
Nearest Bus Stop: corner of Leonard and Fuller, 5 minute walk |
| Last updated on July 26, 2009 |
