Ronald McDonald House Supports University of Chicago Community

-By Laura Andriani

Experiencing the trauma of a child's stay at the hospital because of a serious illness can be a parent's worst nightmare. Fortunately, at the University of Chicago Children's Hospital, parents can find a safe-haven to stay overnight that is not only close to their child, but also provides support and comfort in times of need. The four-story Ronald McDonald House is located on the South Shore of Chicago, 1/2 block from the Children's Hospital. It was founded in 1986 and has served as "a home away from home" to more than 4,900 families.

Besides providing comfortable lodging for families, the Ronald McDonald House also serves meals and acts as a positive and welcoming environment. Each of the 18 guest rooms can sleep 1-3 people, and have been carefully designed and decorated to feel more like a homey guest bedroom than a standard hotel room.

Various living rooms throughout the complex invite guests to read, watch television, play video games, surf the Internet or simply gather together in a safe and compassionate atmosphere.

The kitchen, a large area with multiple refrigerators, stovetops and ovens, is always open and full of food. Guests have the option of cooking themselves or being served in a larger group by volunteers who have prepared meals ahead of time. A nearby toy room provides children with games, books and other playthings to make their stay more pleasant.

"There is a lot of interaction between the guests," says Mary Agnes Murphy, the house manager, "but [the staff] also creates relationships with them. We become a family."

The Ronald McDonald House is often filled to 90 percent capacity with families traveling from nearby suburbs to countries such as China and Kuwait. Although the suggested donation is $5 per night, the house receives most of its financial support from annual appeals and fundraisers. Every Ronald McDonald House in the United States is independently operated, making it reliant on the generosity of its community. While this Ronald McDonald House receives non-financial donations from major corporations such as Coca-Cola, Whirlpool and Entimann's, most of their $250,000 annual budget is met by individual donations.

"We have a very loyal and committed base of donors who have stayed with us before, volunteer here, or simply share our belief in helping others," Murphy says. "It's a practical thing. The money comes here directly, and it keeps things running. It doesn't get lost or filtered, so people feel confident in donating."

Besides finances, says Murphy, the Ronald McDonald House relies heavily on the help of volunteers. Other than two full time employees and three part time employees, the facility is run, managed and organized by volunteers. Mardelle Gundlach, the volunteer coordinator, handles the hundreds of volunteers who deal with all facets of the not-for-profit organization.

"We have individuals who come and cook meals, and we have large groups who help in fundraising or managing the facility," says Gundlach, who has been involved with this Ronald McDonald House for over 15 years. According to Gundlach, new volunteers are always welcome to help out with anything from family meal programs to special skills such as plumbers, gardeners and decorators.

"This neighborhood is very supportive of our efforts. We welcome students who want to organize seasonal activities for the families, or who have special talents that help make our guests' time here a positive one," Murphy says.

Those who work at the Ronald McDonald House are what make it such a warm and friendly place. "Many people come back, and to me they are part of the family. We create a bond and share in their successes and struggles," Murphy says.

"I like being able to help people who are in a crisis, making their [hard] times a bit easier" adds Gundlach.

The Ronald McDonald House by the University of Chicago Children's Hospital is located at 5736 S. Drexel Avenue. Those interested in volunteering can contact Mardelle Gundlach at (773) 324-5437 or at VolCordTL@aol.com. Please visit www.ronaldmcdonaldhouseuc.org for more information and details on donating.

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