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Providence Ronald McDonald House
A home away from home for the families of hospitalized children.
Description:
The Providence Ronald McDonald House provides temporary housing for the families of hospitalized children. Our goal is to offer parents and children a safe, warm environment during a difficult time. Our families come from as far away as Australia and as nearby as Newport. Volunteers are the heart of our House. We need people to undertake a variety of duties. Some of these responsibilities include: checking guests in and out, answering telephones, processing referrals from the hospital, assisting with household chores, cooking meals and baking treats. Often, what our guests need most is a reassuring presence and a friendly face.
History:
The Providence Ronald McDonald House opened its doors and hearts to the public on November 6, 1989. Since then, the House has served as a "home away from home" for families whose children are receiving medical care for premature birth, serious injury, illness or surgery at local hospitals such as Women&Infants, Hasbro Children's and Bradley Hospitals.
It all began in 1986 when a group of concerned individuals from the Women&Infants and Rhode Island Hospitals met to talk about patients and relatives sleeping on hospital chairs overnight in order to be closer to their children. Through this initial conversation, the hard work of many, and numerous, generous donations, the Providence Ronald McDonald House was created.
The House has 16 bedrooms, including 4 bedroom suites, 3 kitchens, a living room, dining areas, a children's playroom and laundry facilities. An enclosed courtyard and adjacent play areas offer protected access to the outdoors. secondary to its proximity to area medical facilities, the PRMH offers something even more important: the support that comes from being able to talk and share concerns with other parents and families going through a similarly difficult situation.
Contact person: Linda King, House Manager, 401-274-4447, (email)
Office fax number: 401-751-3730
Address:
Web Site: http://www.prmh.org
Directions:
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located on RI Hospital campus.
Nearest Bus Stop: Gay Street-RIPTA Trolley |
Miscellaneous Information
| Handicap accessible? |
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Yes
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| Interests Served: |
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Solutions for Children, Youth, Families, Helping People in Crisis
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| Does your agency accept court-appointed volunteers? |
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No
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| Last updated on August 14, 2009 |
Volunteer Reflections
Post Your Own!
Providence Ronald McDonald House
5
Overall Experience
A wonderful experience-- the Providence Ronald McDonald House is truly the house that love built.
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I learned about the Providence Ronald McDonald House through my previous summers spent working at McDonald's restaurants. When I began searching for volunteer opportunities as I finished my first year of college last spring, I was very interested in learning more about the PRMH because I knew that it would be a wonderful way to acquainted with a new city, to meet new people, and to continue carrying out the McDonald's mission.
The PRMH greets every member of the community with an open door; everyone feels welcome and accepted from the moment he or she comes through the door. The staff members and the volunteers enthusiastically guided me through the application process and were willing to answer all of my questions about the volunteering experience. By listening to what the volunteers said about their own experiences at the PRMH, I easily pictured myself in the role of a volunteer at the House. Even though the duties of the volunteers are different from what I had expected at first I didn't realize that the majority of my interactions would be with the families instead of with the pediatric patients I knew that I wanted to contribute to the very positive atmosphere at the House.
While I learned quite a bit about the PRMH and its operations at a morning orientation session, it was not until I actually began volunteering that I was able to understand the emotion and the history that permeate the House. Every time I come to the House, I meet new families and my responsibilities have continued to evolve. I am amazed every skill I gained and practiced while working at McDonald's has aided me so much in my new role as a volunteer. Whether I am cleaning guest rooms, preparing meals and desserts, describing the House to those who telephone and inquire, or interacting with the families who are staying at the House, all of these interactions have helped me to become more open and communicative. Helping others is important to me, and I try my best to contribute to the peaceful, comforting atmosphere that already exists within the House. Much like my responsibilities as a volunteer have enabled me to grow personally, it is inspiring that every volunteer is called upon to use his or her talents and to sharpen them, too, in hopes of helping someone else. The PRMH has a very welcoming atmosphere, and the staff and the volunteers are united by their willingness and desire to make a difference. I believe that anyone who shares this goal and is willing to give of himself or herself in a unique way would make an excellent volunteer.
The volunteers, staff, and families who have come to stay at the Providence Ronald McDonald House have all contributed to its history and success. The PRMH celebrates its fifteenth birthday this year, and it has maintained an amazing cycle throughout that time. As the House welcomes families and eventually sends each one well, and also as volunteers come and go, adding to its force, the PRMH thrives on the love that passes through it. While the PRMH has often been described as the 'House that Love Built', love, in so many different forms, is what continues to keep it running in full circle.
posted by HJHurst on September 15, 2004 |
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