Since opening in December, the house has served 127 families and counting
NEW ORLEANS – Ronald McDonald House Charities of South Louisiana (RMHC-SLA) has been making an impact on families in the community for nearly 40 years, and with the opening of their new larger house on Children’s Hospital New Orleans’ campus their impact has far exceeded expectations. Since its opening on December 8, 2023, the new house has surpassed momentous milestones welcoming more than 127 families (346 adults and 270 children) for more than 2,400 nights and offering approximately 1,125 meals.
“Now in its fifth month, the house has a waiting list,” said RMHC-SLA Executive Director, Grace McIntosh. “We are beyond happy to provide a home-away-from-home for families who need it most. With more than 70% of our families seeking treatment at Children’s Hospital New Orleans, our house allows them to stay in close proximity to their loved ones.”
Nestled inside Children’s Hospital’s State Street campus, the 17,500-square-foot house increases accommodations for families, as compared to their former house on Canal Street, by at least 47% with 22 guest rooms, nine of which can accommodate four or more guests with adjoining room options for additional family members.
Families staying at the new house can enjoy a 64-person dining room, an outdoor barbecue space, game room, playroom, library and other community spaces. The number and size of the community spaces in the house allows for increased onsite volunteer-led activities, which is the heart of RHMC-SLA programming. It is in these spaces that families can develop friendships – drawing strength and hope from being together and knowing they are not alone during difficult times.
McIntosh added, “We love our volunteers! Without them we would not be able to do what we do. We are always looking for volunteers, whether to drop off a meal or spend some time volunteering at the house with our families there are countless opportunities to get involved.”
Since RMHC-SLA’s founding in December 1983, they have served more than 20,000 families from Greater New Orleans and across the country. With the help of the local community, they help ease the financial and emotional burdens families face as they access critical care for their children. They are that home-away-from-home, offering free accommodations, volunteer-provided meals, transportation when needed, a food pantry and a support system like no other.
To learn more about RMHC-SLA, including ways to volunteer and support families staying at the house, visit rmhc-sla.org.
Ronald McDonald House Charities of South Louisiana: Since 1983, RMHC-SLA has partnered with our local children’s health care providers to keep families together and near the medical care their ill or injured children need. Through the generosity of our donors and volunteers, RMHC-SLA continues to focus on families’ needs as they face the medical uncertainty and financial stress of caring for their children.
Today, RMHC-SLA serves critically ill children through our Ronald McDonald House® located in New Orleans on the campus of Children’s Hospital, Ronald McDonald Family Room® in Lafayette at Our Lady of Lourdes Women’s & Children’s Hospital, and Ronald McDonald Happy Wheels® Hospitality Carts. Through these programs we help provide housing, meals, community, and psychosocial support to families with children at local hospitals across Louisiana, the Gulf South Region and around the world.
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