1. Decide which location to participate in Meals from the Heart programs. Would your group would rather plan and create their own meal at West County, or work with a chef for a more turnkey experience at the Grove.   
2. Review the Meals from the Heart Program guidelines by clicking here. To protect the health and safety of guest families, all volunteers are required to read these guidelines before participating.

West County Volunteers will be prompted to fill out requested information, receive an automatic email confirming their dates, and can begin planning their menu. Check out the recent menus closer to your volunteer date to see what other groups have cooked. You will receive a reminder email five days in advance before you prepare your meal. 

Grove Volunteers will begin by choosing to provide a meal at dinner time or a weekend ice cream social at the House. Once a date is selected, volunteers can lock in their choice by paying for the experience through SignUp Genius. 

Meals from the Heart operates slightly differently at each location. 
At the West County Ronald McDonald House, volunteers design, shop for, and plan their own meals. 
At the Grove Ronald McDonald House, volunteers make a donation and then work with a chef to help create a predetermined meal. 

Please bring a current driver's license, passport, or state ID. 

During this limited volunteer period, groups can have a maximum of ten individuals.

West County: Children over the age of 12 can participate and are included in the group total. Children must be with an adult at all times. 

Grove: Children over 16 can participate in the evening meals, and children over 12 can participate in the Ice Cream Socials. 

For addresses and directions to any of our locations, please visit our Contact page.

Our Ronald McDonald House program is at total capacity. Family meals should serve approximately 40-45 individuals at the West County location. You are also welcome to call our Family Services Team for an update on the number of families to prepare for.

The menu is up to your group. We encourage family favorites and meals that will reheat well. Check out our list of recent menus from other volunteer groups.

Recent Menus

Yes, at our West County location. You are encouraged to deliver a meal or prepare one onsite in the community kitchen. 

Because the safety and security of our residents is a top priority, we have instituted a policy that requires everyone over the age of 18 to present a valid form of identification and check-in through a system that searches the National Sex Offender Registry. Upon check-in, you will receive a visitor badge. Please make sure that everyone in your group receives this notice. Without an ID, we will be unable to check you into the Ronald McDonald House. Thank you so much for helping us keep our families safe. 

Dinner is served buffet-style at 6:00 p.m. The recommended arrival time to prepare dinner is 4:00 p.m.

West County: Breakfast is served buffet-style at 9:00 a.m. The recommended arrival time to prepare Breakfast is 7:30-8:00 a.m. (Please do not arrive before 7:30 a.m.).

The kitchens are stocked with standard kitchen equipment, including a grill at each location. Each kitchen also has plates, bowls, silverware, and everything you should need for serving. Coffee, tea, and soda machines are available on-site. If you would like to bring other types of drinks, you can, but it is not required.

Please plan to stay until approximately 7:00 p.m. to put food away and clean up the kitchen and dining room areas. It is important for meals to be packaged in individual containers for the safety of guest families. 

Not all families are here when meals are served as they may be at the hospital. Guest families also may not feel comfortable being in community spaces during high traffic times. They will enjoy the meal later when there are fewer individuals in the dining areas or once they return from the hospital.