Families come to the Ronald McDonald House in times of uncertainty. So at times like this where we all feel a bit uncertain, the Ronald McDonald House is prepared to help.
Update: August 1, 2020:
We’re entering the second half of a year none of us could have imagined. While we’re all doing everything we can to stay safe and well — parents have become teachers, pets have become coworkers and video chats have replaced real life get-togethers.
Through it all, Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southern Arizona has continued to help children and their families. We’ve put 38 families up in hotels while their children are receiving medical care. It’s not the warm and welcoming Ronald McDonald House but families have been relieved (and surprised) that we can pay for their hotel bill. This is because of you and your generous support.
Like you, we are shifting to adjust to our new reality. We will have to take a break from our fun in-person fundraising events this year. But we still have fun things planned and are eager to reconnect with our friends in a new way.
We have developed new health and safety protocols to eventually be able to re-open the Ronald McDonald House to families. The health and well-being of the families we serve remains our highest priority.
We are grateful to live in such a kind and caring community. We are grateful to the thousands of talented, dedicated medical professionals throughout our community who having been working overtime for months on our behalf. We are grateful for you.
With best wishes and gratitude,
Kate
###
Update, May 29, 2020: I want to thank our community for your support and your understanding over the past two and a half months. During that time, the safety and health of the families we serve, along with that of our staff and volunteers, has remained our top priority. A few things have changed since my previous letter that I wanted you to be aware of:
- Over the past several weeks, RMHC has been housing some guest families in hotels close to hospitals, clinics and the airport. If your child is in need of medical care, and you need to travel to Tucson as a result, please visit our Stay with Us page to learn more.
- The Ronald McDonald Care Mobile is open as of June 1. Though it will operate on a more limited basis to ensure the health of patients, their families, and the community, we are delighted that this service will once again be available to children in Cochise County. Thank you to Chiricahua Community Health Centers, Inc. and their dental services team for their diligent work in safely reopening this important program.
- We are preparing for the reopening of the Ronald McDonald House in Tucson. I will provide another update with more details in the weeks to come. In the meantime we are monitoring public health data from Pima County and throughout Arizona.
We remain as committed as ever to our mission of nurturing the health and well-being of children and their families. If you have questions about utilizing any of our services, please contact us. If you would like to support RMHC, we are accepting donations through our donation page or of gifts cards to local restaurants.
Thank you. -Kate
###
March 17, 2020
You’ve most likely read that the communities most susceptible to the current COVID-19 outbreak are the elderly and medically compromised, and that certainly includes the families we care for at the Ronald McDonald House. In fact, some of you have already called or written asking how you can help.
First of all, thank you for thinking about these children and their families.
Secondly, I want to assure you that we are taking every available precaution to ensure that the families, volunteers and staff at the Ronald McDonald House remain safe. We have revisited the policies and procedures that keep our facilities sanitary and secure every day, and have increased every effort to be doubly sure.
Our volunteer programs are on hold for the moment, as are certain programs like Pop Tab Pandemonium.
The Ronald McDonald House is closed to all visitors except for guest families and essential staff members. In order to prioritize the health and safety of our current house guests, through at least May 2, we will not be accepting any new guest families. We may be able to make other accomodations available, so if you need to find somewhere to stay, please visit our Stay With Us page or call us.
The Ronald McDonald Family Room at Banner Children’s-Diamond Children’s Medical Center and the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile (operated in partnership with Chiricahua Community Health Centers in Cochise County) have also been temporarily suspended.
If you would like to donate Wish List items or restaurant gift cards for our families, we still welcome you to do so, but ask that you either send them through the mail or follow the signage listed at the front gate of the Ronald McDonald House. Of course, please use precaution, and if you are experiencing a cough, fever, sore throat or any other form of illness please call to postpone your meal.
Lastly, if you wish to support Ronald McDonald House Charities, the best way to do so right now is to make a tax credit-eligible gift. Tax credit gifts provide unrestricted revenue and allow us to be flexible in our spending and nimble in our decision-making. While the deadline for 2019 gifts has passed, you can begin to plan for your 2020 return by making a one-time or monthly sustaining gift. You may also wish to check with you tax advisor about new tax benefits related to the CARES Act. You can make your donation here.
All of us here at Ronald McDonald House Charities wish you the best of health and thank you for your support and concern for the families served by RMHC of Southern Arizona.
Sincerely,
Kate Maguire Jensen
President & CEO
