Ronald Mcdonald House Charities Of Northeast Ohio Inc

ENHANCES THE HEALTHCARE EXPERIENCE FOR FAMILIES AND CHILDREN THROUGH COMFORT, CARE AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES.

RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE PROGRAMS IN CLEVELAND AND AKRON GIVE FAMILIES A WELCOMING PLACE TO STAY SO THEY CAN FOCUS ON CARING FOR THEIR CHILDREN. COMFORTABLE ROOMS, MEALS, INVITING COMMON AREAS AND LANDSCAPED GROUNDS ARE A SAFE AND WELCOME RETREAT FROM THE HOSPITAL SETTING. FAMILIES ALSO BENEFIT FROM THE COMRADERY AND COMMUNITY THEY FIND IN OUR HOUSE PROGRAMS. AT FULL CAPACITY, RMHC NEO CAN ACCOMMODATE 95 FAMILIES PER NIGHT AT THE AKRON AND CLEVELAND LOCATIONS. COVID IMPACTED THESE NUMBERS, YET 12,025 NIGHTS OF LODGING WERE PROVIDED FOR 620 FAMILIES. MANY FAMILIES VISITED MORE THAN ONCE, BRINGING THE TOTAL NUMBER OF FAMILY VISITS TO 795. THE AVERAGE STAY WAS 22 NIGHTS; FOUR LONG-TERM FAMILIES RETURNED HOME AFTER A TOTAL OF 3,093 NIGHTS. THE LONGEST STAY WAS 1,163 NIGHTS. WHEN FAMILIES COULD NOT BE ACCOMMODATED HOTEL NIGHTS WERE PROVIDED (60 NIGHTS FOR 29 FAMILIES). FAMILIES CAME FROM 13 COUNTRIES AND 39 US STATES. OHIO RESIDENTS MADE UP 71.5 PERCENT OF FAMILIES; OTHER TOP STATES INCLUDED PENNSYLVANIA, MICHIGAN, NEW YORK, AND INDIANA. OHIO RESIDENTS CAME FROM 59 DIFFERENT COUNTIES, THE TOP EIGHT COUNTIES BEING STARK, SUMMIT, WAYNE, MAHONING, TRUMBULL, HURON, COLUMBIANA, AND LORAIN. INTERNATIONAL FAMILIES MADE UP 3 PERCENT OF FAMILIES, BUT 8.5 PERCENT OF ROOM NIGHTS. NO FAMILY IS EVER CHARGED A ROOM FEE. THOUGH THE NIGHTLY ROOM COST IS APPROXIMATELY $100, FAMILIES ARE NEVER ASKED TO PAY. THEY ARE INVITED TO DONATE TOWARD CONTINUED OPERATIONS IF THEY ARE ABLE. THE AVERAGE NIGHTLY DONATION IN 2021 WAS $6.23. MEALS ARE AN ESSENTIAL SERVICE, NOURISHING THE BODIES AND SOULS OF THE FAMILIES STAYING AT OUR HOUSE PROGRAMS. RESTRICTIONS WERE LOOSENED THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, BUT THE NUMBER OF GROUPS AND VOLUNTEERS WAS STILL MORE LIMITED. STILL, 84 MEAL GROUPS HELPED TO PREPARE MEALS AND THE FAMILY MEAL PROGRAM SERVED 38,604 LUNCHES AND DINNERS, DAILY CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST AND 24/7 ACCESS TO SELF-SERVE SNACKS AND BEVERAGES. THIRTY-SEVEN CATERED MEALS WERE DONATED BY GROUPS WHO COULD NOT COOK IN PERSON. IN TOTAL, ACROSS PROGRAMS, THE MEAL PROGRAM SAVED FAMILIES MORE THAN $600,000 IN DINING-OUT COSTS. VOLUNTEERS PLAY A VITAL ROLE IN KEEPING OUR HOUSE PROGRAMS RUNNING AND SERVING OUR FAMILIES WITH COMPASSION AND CARE. THEIR PRESENCE WAS DEARLY MISSED WHEN THEY COULD NOT BE ONSITE, AND WE WERE THRILLED TO BE ABLE TO WELCOME INDIVIDUAL VOLUNTEERS IN ALL HOUSE POSITIONS BACK IN 2021. 132 VOLUNTEERS CONTRIBUTED 10,890 HOURS TO OUR HOUSE PROGRAMS. THIS INCLUDES SEVEN PET THERAPY PARTNERS WHO BROUGHT NINE DOGS FOR 32 VISITS!

RONALD MCDONALD FAMILY ROOM PROGRAMS IN FOUR CLEVELAND-AREA HOSPITALS (CLEVELAND CLINIC CHILDREN'S, CLEVELAND CLINIC FAIRVIEW HOSPITAL, METROHEALTH MEDICAL CENTER AND UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS RAINBOW BABIES AND CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL) OFFER A SPACE FOR FAMILIES TO REST AND RECHARGE JUST STEPS FROM THEIR CHILD'S TREATMENT ROOM. EACH FAMILY ROOM IS EQUIPPED WITH A KITCHENETTE STOCKED WITH SNACKS AND BEVERAGES, COMFORTABLE SITTING AREA WITH TV, SMALL PLAY AREA FOR CHILDREN, AND COMPUTERS WITH INTERNET. SOME ALSO INCLUDE A PRIVATE RESTROOM WITH SHOWER AND LAUNDRY FACILITIES AND SLEEP ROOMS (ASSIGNED BY HOSPITAL STAFF). HAPPY WHEELS MOBILE HOSPITALITY CARTS BRING COMFORT TO THE BEDSIDE FOR THOSE WHO CANNOT STEP AWAY. THROUGHOUT 2021, RESTRICTIONS ON THE NUMBER AND FREQUENCY OF VISITORS MADE THESE PROGRAMS EVEN MORE CRITICAL TO FAMILIES WITH HOSPITALIZED CHILDREN. WITH THE RISK OF COVID REMAINING HIGH, WE SUCCESSFULLY IMPLEMENTED NEW PROCEDURES AND FOUND NEW WAYS TO SERVE FAMILIES RIGHT ON THE PEDIATRIC UNIT, WHEN AND WHERE THEY NEED IT MOST. IN TOTAL, 2,069 FAMILIES REGISTERED AT FAMILY ROOMS, VISITING MORE THAN 10,215 TIMES. WHERE AVAILABLE, 1,636 LOADS OF LAUNDRY WERE WASHED AND 340 SHOWERS TAKEN.SINCE PARENTS COULD NO LONGER COME AND GO THROUGHOUT THE DAY, THE FOOD WE MADE AVAILABLE BECAME EVEN MORE IMPORTANT. WE STOCKED UP ON GRAB-AND-GO SNACKS, FRUIT AND MICROWAVEABLE ITEMS AND IN JUNE LAUNCHED THE BOXED LUNCH PROGRAM, DELIVERING FRESH, HEALTHY MEALS ON SELECT DAYS. THROUGHOUT THE YEAR 7,991 MEALS WERE PROVIDED IN THE FAMILY ROOM PROGRAMS, SAVING FAMILIES MORE THAN $87,000 AND THE TIME AND STRESS INVOLVED WITH LEAVING THE PEDIATRIC UNIT TO FIND SOMETHING TO EAT.WE BRIGHTENED CHILDREN'S DAYS WITH 1,412 GIFTS OF STUFFED ANIMALS, CRAFT KITS, ART SUPPLIES, PAJAMAS AND TOYS. FAMILIES WERE ALSO ABLE TO CELEBRATE SPECIAL OCCASIONS RIGHT IN THE HOSPITAL, WITH TREATS AND GIFTS FOR WINTER HOLIDAYS, VALENTINE'S DAY, MOTHER'S DAY, FATHER'S DAY, HALLOWEEN AND MORE. DUE TO CONTINUED RESTRICTIONS ON VOLUNTEER SERVICES IN SOME HOSPITALS, FAMILY ROOM VOLUNTEERS WERE NOT ABLE TO RETURN IN ALL LOCATIONS. THIS REQUIRED UTILIZATION OF PAID STAFF TO OPERATE THOSE PROGRAMS, LIMITING HOURS OF OPERATION. BY YEAR'S END, ALL FAMILY ROOM LOCATIONS WERE UTILIZING VOLUNTEERS. TWENTY-SEVEN VOLUNTEERS PROVIDED 1,352 HOURS OF SERVICE IN THESE HOSPITAL-BASED PROGRAMS.

REDTREEHOUSE.ORG, THE ONLINE RONALD MCDONALD FAMILY RESOURCE LINK, SUPPORTS THE WELL-BEING OF FAMILIES AND CHILDREN WITH CHALLENGES, DISABILITIES AND HEALTH CARE NEEDS. MANAGING A CHILD'S ONGOING MEDICAL CARE AND NEEDS CAN BE COMPLICATED AND FINDING THE RIGHT RESOURCES CAN BE TIME-CONSUMING. REDTREEHOUSE.ORG IS A CURATED COLLECTION OF 6,000+ RESOURCES TO HELP FAMILIES FIND THE SUPPORT THEY NEED. IN ADDITION TO RESOURCE LISTINGS, REDTREEHOUSE.ORG HOUSES A COLLECTION OF ORIGINAL HELPFUL GUIDES, WHICH OFFER INFORMATION AND COMPILATIONS OF RESOURCES ON A VARIETY OF TOPICS RELEVANT TO THE FAMILIES WE SERVE. 2021 WAS A YEAR OF GROWTH FOR REDTREEHOUSE.ORG. SITE USAGE INCREASED BY 69 PERCENT OVER THE PREVIOUS YEAR TO 22,799 VISITS, WHILE THE NUMBER OF INDIVIDUAL USERS INCREASED BY 79 PERCENT TO 18,373. MUCH OF THIS GROWTH CAME FROM OUR INCREASED SOCIAL MEDIA OUTREACH. WE WORKED WITH SIX PARENTS AND PROFESSIONALS TO SHARE SITE RESOURCES WITH THEIR NETWORKS, WHICH HELPED US REACH FAMILIES WHO WERE SEEKING SUPPORT FROM THEIR PEERS ONLINE.

RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE PROGRAMS IN CLEVELAND AND AKRON GIVE FAMILIES A WELCOMING PLACE TO STAY SO THEY CAN FOCUS ON CARING FOR THEIR CHILDREN. COMFORTABLE ROOMS, MEALS, INVITING COMMON AREAS AND LANDSCAPED GROUNDS ARE A SAFE AND WELCOME RETREAT FROM THE HOSPITAL SETTING. FAMILIES ALSO BENEFIT FROM THE COMRADERY AND COMMUNITY THEY FIND IN OUR HOUSE PROGRAMS. AT FULL CAPACITY, RMHC NEO CAN ACCOMMODATE 95 FAMILIES PER NIGHT AT THE AKRON AND CLEVELAND LOCATIONS. COVID IMPACTED THESE NUMBERS, YET 12,025 NIGHTS OF LODGING WERE PROVIDED FOR 620 FAMILIES. MANY FAMILIES VISITED MORE THAN ONCE, BRINGING THE TOTAL NUMBER OF FAMILY VISITS TO 795. THE AVERAGE STAY WAS 22 NIGHTS; FOUR LONG-TERM FAMILIES RETURNED HOME AFTER A TOTAL OF 3,093 NIGHTS. THE LONGEST STAY WAS 1,163 NIGHTS. WHEN FAMILIES COULD NOT BE ACCOMMODATED HOTEL NIGHTS WERE PROVIDED (60 NIGHTS FOR 29 FAMILIES). FAMILIES CAME FROM 13 COUNTRIES AND 39 US STATES. OHIO RESIDENTS MADE UP 71.5 PERCENT OF FAMILIES; OTHER TOP STATES INCLUDED PENNSYLVANIA, MICHIGAN, NEW YORK, AND INDIANA. OHIO RESIDENTS CAME FROM 59 DIFFERENT COUNTIES, THE TOP EIGHT COUNTIES BEING STARK, SUMMIT, WAYNE, MAHONING, TRUMBULL, HURON, COLUMBIANA, AND LORAIN. INTERNATIONAL FAMILIES MADE UP 3 PERCENT OF FAMILIES, BUT 8.5 PERCENT OF ROOM NIGHTS. NO FAMILY IS EVER CHARGED A ROOM FEE. THOUGH THE NIGHTLY ROOM COST IS APPROXIMATELY $100, FAMILIES ARE NEVER ASKED TO PAY. THEY ARE INVITED TO DONATE TOWARD CONTINUED OPERATIONS IF THEY ARE ABLE. THE AVERAGE NIGHTLY DONATION IN 2021 WAS $6.23. MEALS ARE AN ESSENTIAL SERVICE, NOURISHING THE BODIES AND SOULS OF THE FAMILIES STAYING AT OUR HOUSE PROGRAMS. RESTRICTIONS WERE LOOSENED THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, BUT THE NUMBER OF GROUPS AND VOLUNTEERS WAS STILL MORE LIMITED. STILL, 84 MEAL GROUPS HELPED TO PREPARE MEALS AND THE FAMILY MEAL PROGRAM SERVED 38,604 LUNCHES AND DINNERS, DAILY CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST AND 24/7 ACCESS TO SELF-SERVE SNACKS AND BEVERAGES. THIRTY-SEVEN CATERED MEALS WERE DONATED BY GROUPS WHO COULD NOT COOK IN PERSON. IN TOTAL, ACROSS PROGRAMS, THE MEAL PROGRAM SAVED FAMILIES MORE THAN $600,000 IN DINING-OUT COSTS. VOLUNTEERS PLAY A VITAL ROLE IN KEEPING OUR HOUSE PROGRAMS RUNNING AND SERVING OUR FAMILIES WITH COMPASSION AND CARE. THEIR PRESENCE WAS DEARLY MISSED WHEN THEY COULD NOT BE ONSITE, AND WE WERE THRILLED TO BE ABLE TO WELCOME INDIVIDUAL VOLUNTEERS IN ALL HOUSE POSITIONS BACK IN 2021. 132 VOLUNTEERS CONTRIBUTED 10,890 HOURS TO OUR HOUSE PROGRAMS. THIS INCLUDES SEVEN PET THERAPY PARTNERS WHO BROUGHT NINE DOGS FOR 32 VISITS!

RONALD MCDONALD FAMILY ROOM PROGRAMS IN FOUR CLEVELAND-AREA HOSPITALS (CLEVELAND CLINIC CHILDREN'S, CLEVELAND CLINIC FAIRVIEW HOSPITAL, METROHEALTH MEDICAL CENTER AND UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS RAINBOW BABIES AND CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL) OFFER A SPACE FOR FAMILIES TO REST AND RECHARGE JUST STEPS FROM THEIR CHILD'S TREATMENT ROOM. EACH FAMILY ROOM IS EQUIPPED WITH A KITCHENETTE STOCKED WITH SNACKS AND BEVERAGES, COMFORTABLE SITTING AREA WITH TV, SMALL PLAY AREA FOR CHILDREN, AND COMPUTERS WITH INTERNET. SOME ALSO INCLUDE A PRIVATE RESTROOM WITH SHOWER AND LAUNDRY FACILITIES AND SLEEP ROOMS (ASSIGNED BY HOSPITAL STAFF). HAPPY WHEELS MOBILE HOSPITALITY CARTS BRING COMFORT TO THE BEDSIDE FOR THOSE WHO CANNOT STEP AWAY. THROUGHOUT 2021, RESTRICTIONS ON THE NUMBER AND FREQUENCY OF VISITORS MADE THESE PROGRAMS EVEN MORE CRITICAL TO FAMILIES WITH HOSPITALIZED CHILDREN. WITH THE RISK OF COVID REMAINING HIGH, WE SUCCESSFULLY IMPLEMENTED NEW PROCEDURES AND FOUND NEW WAYS TO SERVE FAMILIES RIGHT ON THE PEDIATRIC UNIT, WHEN AND WHERE THEY NEED IT MOST. IN TOTAL, 2,069 FAMILIES REGISTERED AT FAMILY ROOMS, VISITING MORE THAN 10,215 TIMES. WHERE AVAILABLE, 1,636 LOADS OF LAUNDRY WERE WASHED AND 340 SHOWERS TAKEN.SINCE PARENTS COULD NO LONGER COME AND GO THROUGHOUT THE DAY, THE FOOD WE MADE AVAILABLE BECAME EVEN MORE IMPORTANT. WE STOCKED UP ON GRAB-AND-GO SNACKS, FRUIT AND MICROWAVEABLE ITEMS AND IN JUNE LAUNCHED THE BOXED LUNCH PROGRAM, DELIVERING FRESH, HEALTHY MEALS ON SELECT DAYS. THROUGHOUT THE YEAR 7,991 MEALS WERE PROVIDED IN THE FAMILY ROOM PROGRAMS, SAVING FAMILIES MORE THAN $87,000 AND THE TIME AND STRESS INVOLVED WITH LEAVING THE PEDIATRIC UNIT TO FIND SOMETHING TO EAT.WE BRIGHTENED CHILDREN'S DAYS WITH 1,412 GIFTS OF STUFFED ANIMALS, CRAFT KITS, ART SUPPLIES, PAJAMAS AND TOYS. FAMILIES WERE ALSO ABLE TO CELEBRATE SPECIAL OCCASIONS RIGHT IN THE HOSPITAL, WITH TREATS AND GIFTS FOR WINTER HOLIDAYS, VALENTINE'S DAY, MOTHER'S DAY, FATHER'S DAY, HALLOWEEN AND MORE. DUE TO CONTINUED RESTRICTIONS ON VOLUNTEER SERVICES IN SOME HOSPITALS, FAMILY ROOM VOLUNTEERS WERE NOT ABLE TO RETURN IN ALL LOCATIONS. THIS REQUIRED UTILIZATION OF PAID STAFF TO OPERATE THOSE PROGRAMS, LIMITING HOURS OF OPERATION. BY YEAR'S END, ALL FAMILY ROOM LOCATIONS WERE UTILIZING VOLUNTEERS. TWENTY-SEVEN VOLUNTEERS PROVIDED 1,352 HOURS OF SERVICE IN THESE HOSPITAL-BASED PROGRAMS.

REDTREEHOUSE.ORG, THE ONLINE RONALD MCDONALD FAMILY RESOURCE LINK, SUPPORTS THE WELL-BEING OF FAMILIES AND CHILDREN WITH CHALLENGES, DISABILITIES AND HEALTH CARE NEEDS. MANAGING A CHILD'S ONGOING MEDICAL CARE AND NEEDS CAN BE COMPLICATED AND FINDING THE RIGHT RESOURCES CAN BE TIME-CONSUMING. REDTREEHOUSE.ORG IS A CURATED COLLECTION OF 6,000+ RESOURCES TO HELP FAMILIES FIND THE SUPPORT THEY NEED. IN ADDITION TO RESOURCE LISTINGS, REDTREEHOUSE.ORG HOUSES A COLLECTION OF ORIGINAL HELPFUL GUIDES, WHICH OFFER INFORMATION AND COMPILATIONS OF RESOURCES ON A VARIETY OF TOPICS RELEVANT TO THE FAMILIES WE SERVE. 2021 WAS A YEAR OF GROWTH FOR REDTREEHOUSE.ORG. SITE USAGE INCREASED BY 69 PERCENT OVER THE PREVIOUS YEAR TO 22,799 VISITS, WHILE THE NUMBER OF INDIVIDUAL USERS INCREASED BY 79 PERCENT TO 18,373. MUCH OF THIS GROWTH CAME FROM OUR INCREASED SOCIAL MEDIA OUTREACH. WE WORKED WITH SIX PARENTS AND PROFESSIONALS TO SHARE SITE RESOURCES WITH THEIR NETWORKS, WHICH HELPED US REACH FAMILIES WHO WERE SEEKING SUPPORT FROM THEIR PEERS ONLINE.