Make a Meal. Make a Difference.
Offering a home-cooked meal or a quick snack is one of the most important ways we can provide our guest families with the comfort of home, especially after a long day at the hospital. Thanks to our Meals from the Heart Program, nightly dinners, along with breakfast on the weekends, are prepared by community groups at each of our Ronald McDonald Houses. We need your help to continue providing this source of comfort to those who call our Houses their home-away-from-home.
Read on to discover the different ways to get involved through our Meals from the Heart: West County and Meals from the Heart: The Grove programs.
Two Houses. Two Programs. One Powerful Meal.
West County House
At our West County House, groups can prepare a meal of their choosing for guest families.
If you prefer not to cook in the House, you are welcome to have a meal delivered from a local restaurant.
Use our online calendar to reserve a date to prepare or deliver a meal.
The Grove House
With the enhanced Meals from the Heart program at the new House, getting involved is easier than ever. The Grove House, outfitted with a brand-new industrial kitchen, makes it easy for groups and organizations to support families by preparing meals with chef-led direction.
For a $375 donation, groups are invited to prepare a chef-inspired meal for families and help create grab-and-go meals for easy convenience throughout the day. No shopping or planning is required!
No time to cook, and still want to be involved? For a $150 donation, you and your party can throw a weekend ice cream social for the House to bring a bit of sweetness to guest families' lives.
Volunteers for both programs will have to pass a health screening process and agree to our volunteer guidelines.
Other Ways to Feed Families.
Are you looking for other ways to give back? Consider making a monetary donation towards the Meals from the Heart Program. Your donation will directly impact the lives of families and ensure all the freshest ingredients are available.
You can also help by keeping our pantries full so guest families can cook their own meals. Consider donating any of the following items to help feed RMHC guest families.
- Pantry or nonperishable items (canned fruits, jerky, soup, protein bars, grains, and canned veggies)
- Frozen entrees (Marie Callender’s® family-sized lasagna, baked ziti, meatloaf, etc.)
- Prepared deli meals (chicken, salads, sandwiches, etc.)
- Kitchen basics (seasonings, single-serving disposable meal containers, etc.)
Frequently Asked Questions
- 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.
- 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.