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Welcome to the Ronald McDonald House

Our House is filled with more than help, itā€™s filled with hope.

We believe that ā€œhomeā€ is more than four walls and a roof over your head. Thatā€™s why the Ronald McDonald House is a safe haven that provides all the comforts of home, plus the compassion and hospitality of staff, volunteers, and other families ā€” close to the hospital.

Ronald McDonald House

When the best treatment for a sick child is far from home, thankfully, families donā€™t have worry about where to stay. At the Ronald McDonald House, families can stay together, rest and recharge to remain strong for their child, interact with families going through similar experiences, enjoy home-cooked meals and receive compassionate hospitality from staff and volunteers ā€” all just minutes from the hospital where their child is receiving care.

Take a Photo Tour...

See all we have to offer your family so close to your child's treatment center

Welcome to the Ronald McDonald House, your "home-away-from-home".
Welcome to the Ronald McDonald House, your "home-away-from-home".
Enjoy time together as a family. Our dining room is a great space not just to eat, but to meet other families, too.
Enjoy time together as a family. Our dining room is a great space not just to eat, but to meet other families, too.
In our backyard playground, kids can do what they do best: have fun!
In our backyard playground, kids can do what they do best: have fun!
Parents can relax in the Louise Thomas Healing Garden, where you can find solace in nature. It's a quiet place to get away.
Parents can relax in the Louise Thomas Healing Garden, where you can find solace in nature. It's a quiet place to get away.
All of our rooms have two beds, a small refrigerator, TV, desk, armchair, and a private bathroom. Whether for one night or many, we hope you'll feel at home.
All of our rooms have two beds, a small refrigerator, TV, desk, armchair, and a private bathroom. Whether for one night or many, we hope you'll feel at home.
The patio is a comfortable place to spend time together, and you can use the outdoor kitchen any time.
The patio is a comfortable place to spend time together, and you can use the outdoor kitchen any time.
Our newly renovated kitchen has four ovens and ranges, family refrigerators and community refrigerators. Plenty of space to cook your own meal, or enjoy meals cooked by community volunteers every day of the week.
Our newly renovated kitchen has four ovens and ranges, family refrigerators and community refrigerators. Plenty of space to cook your own meal, or enjoy meals cooked by community volunteers every day of the week.
Our compassionate volunteers are here to serve you at the front desk. You might run into Judy, who has been volunteering at the Ronald McDonald House for more than 35 years!
Our compassionate volunteers are here to serve you at the front desk. You might run into Judy, who has been volunteering at the Ronald McDonald House for more than 35 years!
The TMC Foundation Lactation Suite is a perfect space for mothers to find some privacy. There are two comfortable rocking chairs, pumps and supplies, and a freezer for storage.
The TMC Foundation Lactation Suite is a perfect space for mothers to find some privacy. There are two comfortable rocking chairs, pumps and supplies, and a freezer for storage.
In the living room you can gather and play games, watch a movie or visit the fish tank.
In the living room you can gather and play games, watch a movie or visit the fish tank.
The Center for Adventure is a perfect place for kids of all ages to play and explore. Plus it's right next to the living room, so parents can relax while keeping a close eye on their children.
The Center for Adventure is a perfect place for kids of all ages to play and explore. Plus it's right next to the living room, so parents can relax while keeping a close eye on their children.
We are so thankful to the many community volunteers who make this home available for all of our guests.
We are so thankful to the many community volunteers who make this home available for all of our guests.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

There are two ways to apply for a stay at the Ronald McDonald House.

  1. Contact your social worker at the hospital or clinic where your child is being treated.
  2. Fill out our online form.
Room Request Form
  • In general, any family with a child 21 or younger who lives 30 miles away is eligible to stay, regardless of income or diagnosis. Other criteria, such as a criminal background check, can be found on our Stay with Us page.
  • Ronald McDonald House Charities welcomes children and caregivers of all genders, races, nationalities, abilities, religions, sexual orientations, and other affiliations. We work hard to ensure every family is provided with a safe, comfortable and inviting experience.

There is no minimum or maximum stay. Families can stay as little as 1 night or as many as is needed as dictated by their childā€™s medical condition. Many families will make multiple trips to the Ronald McDonald House for follow-up treatments.

In addition to living in an area in which the right care is not available close by, some of the most common diagnoses for children and families are:

  • Premature birth or a stay in the NICU
  • High-risk pregnancies (mothers can stay before the baby is born)
  • Cancer
  • Transplants
  • Respiratory
  • Cardiac
  • Gastrointestinal
  • Behavioral (in some instances)
  • And many other conditions

If you have a question about your child, just give us a call.

There is no charge to families to stay at the Ronald McDonald House. All costs to the charity are supported by our local community fundraising efforts.

You can support the House or RMHC in a number of ways, and we could not operate the Ronald McDonald House without donations from individuals and groups. Click here to learn more about getting involved with RMHC.

The majority of the annual operating income, about 85%, comes from individual and other corporate donors. Local McDonald’s restaurant owner/operators generously fund portions of the annual operating costs of charity. They also volunteer and support in many other ways.

Each room can accomodate up to 4 people. For families larger than 4 people, two rooms may be required. An adult must stay in each room. Roll-away cribs and/or pack-n-plays may also be available.

Visitors are welcome during visiting hours. Visitors are only allowed downstairs and must be accompanied by a guest at all times.

Background checks are required once every 6 months for each adult in your family that is staying at the House.

ā€œThe hospital provided an ICU for my child. The Ronald McDonald House provided an ICU for my family."

These are the heartfelt words of a mom, and they mean everything to us. Our House is built on the simple idea that nothing else should matter when a family is focused on the health of their child. Providing spaces for families to stay together, grow stronger and all be part of the solution for the sick child is what we are all about.

Ronald McDonald House services:

Comforting meals

Quality sleep

Playtime for children

The Ronald McDonald House helps reduces stress and financial burden for families when they must travel far from home to access medical care for their child.

  • Family proximity to the hospital provides important psychological benefits
  • Parents get better sleep at a Ronald McDonald House
  • Families who stay in a Ronald McDonald House report more positive hospital experiences and a greater ability to participate in their childā€™s care

Helping your family physically, economically, and emotionally during your health care journey.

The Ronald McDonald House helps reduces stress and financial burden for families when they must travel far from home to access medical care for their child.

The Turner Family

In February, little Travis spiked a fever and started having seizures. His parents, Amanda and Randy, rushed him to the emergency room where he was diagnosed with bacterial meningitis and necrotizing encephalitis. At just four months old, those big words meant that his brain was in a lot of danger. His family worried about him. […]

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The Rendon Family: For the Love of Jose

In early 2020, Paola Rendon was visiting her family in Hermosillo, Mexico with her two-year-old son, Jose. He loved playing and watching sports, but baseball was his favorite.  When he started acting out of sorts, Paola became worried. She was working as a nurse and knew something was wrong, so she took him to a […]

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The Two Moons: A Heart for Austin

Lynette Two Moons was first introduced to the Ronald McDonald House when she was around 10 years old. Her auntie had welcomed a son and he had to stay in the hospital a little longer than usual. During that time, she, her auntie and her grandma stayed at a Ronald McDonald House in Sioux Falls, […]

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