For a sick child, sometimes the best medicine of all is having family nearby for more hugs, kisses, and I love you’s. The Ronald McDonald House of Fort Worth (RMHFW) is a refuge for thousands of families each year, and in a typical year, our 57-room House provides safe spaces for families to be together yet only steps away from the hospitals. Additionally, the Ronald McDonald Family Room inside Cook Children’s Medical Center, the Day Program, and Hospitality Cart program allow families who are not staying at the House to receive the comfort and care of our mission, which offers a supportive, home-like community that eases burdens for seriously ill children and their families. Through our four core programs, we served more than 4,000 in 2019; however, in March 2020, as the pandemic bore down on the world, RMHFW was required to suspend all family in-takes and volunteer programs.
Fortunately, in June, we reopened in a phased approach, and we are again serving families; however, volunteer programs remain on hold. Because of the threat of exposure to the most vulnerable, we have made significant modifications to our facility as well as our admittance policies and procedures. Every effort has been made to ensure that our guest families are in an environment that promotes health and safety.
These changes also meant that our signature special events were canceled, which prompted us to create Star Light, Star Bright, a fall fundraising campaign. This is a three-part campaign with an overall goal of $100,000. We are excited to launch an online silent auction on Oct. 1, and you can help our guest families get a good night’s sleep by participating. With over 29 items available in the auction, there’s something for everyone. We will also host a raffle with winning prizes of a Kawasaki Mule ATV, Gucci handbag, or beach trip to a Gulf Coast community in Alabama or Florida.
Visit rmhfw.org to register for the silent auction, buy a raffle ticket, or to make a donation to our 2020 campaign.
Now more than ever, stress levels can be significantly higher than normal during treatment for a child’s illness. RMHFW strives to take care of our families, so that they can solely concentrate on being together without outside financial concerns such as the cost for lodging, food, laundry expenses, and more. We are thankful for the support provided by our community.
