Ronald Mcdonald House Charities Upper Midwest

PROVIDE A SUPPORTIVE, CARING COMMUNITY FOR FAMILIES WITH SERIOUSLY ILL CHILDREN.

LAST YEAR WE SERVED 1,956 FAMILIES ACROSS OUR FIVE LOCATIONS, PROVIDING $2.9 MILLION IN SAVINGS TO OVERNIGHT FAMILIES AND $311,000 IN SAVINGS TO DAY-USE FAMILIES. ANOTHER KEY ACCOMPLISHMENT NOTED ON FAMILY SURVEYS, WAS 99% OF RESPONDENTS RATING OUR PROGRAMS AS 'GOOD OR 'EXCELLENT', 95% FEELING 'BETTER SUPPORTED' BECAUSE OF OUR SERVICES, AND 94% FEELING 'LESS STRESSED AND BETTER ABLE TO COPE' WITH THEIR CHILD'S HEALTH ISSUES AS A RESULT OF OUR WORK. (A) LODGING: THE RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE-OAK STREET IN MINNEAPOLIS FEATURES 48 PRIVATE ROOMS AVAILABLE TO FAMILIES LIVING AT LEAST 40 MILES FROM THE TWIN CITIES. LAST YEAR IT SERVED 203 FAMILIES, PROVIDED 6,754 NIGHTS OF LODGING AND SAVED FAMILIES $1.59 MILLION IN LODGING AND MEAL COSTS. THE AVERAGE LENGTH OF STAY WAS 32 DAYS. RMHC-UM PROVIDES THREE MEALS A DAY PLUS SNACKS AT ALL SITES. ALL MEALS ARE AVAILABLE TO GRAB & GO AS NEEDED AND ARE COMPLIMENTARY. LODGING: THE RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE AT CHILDREN'S, MINNEAPOLIS IS AN IN-HOSPITAL FACILITY WITH 15 PRIVATE ROOMS THAT SERVES FAMILIES WITH A CHILD IN THE HOSPITAL'S NICU OR PICU. IN 2021, IT SERVED 1,516 FAMILIES, ACCOMMODATED 3,696 VISITORS, PROVIDED 4,552 NIGHTS OF LODGING SAVING FAMILIES $1.1 MILLION IN LODGING AND MEAL COSTS. LODGING: THE RONALD MCDONALD FAMILY ROOM AT GILLETTE CHILDREN'S SPECIALTY HEALTHCARE, WITH FOUR OVERNIGHT ROOMS, SERVES THE PEDIATRIC TRAUMA AND DISABILITY COMMUNITY. THIS SITE SUPPORTED 95 FAMILIES, PROVIDED 943 NIGHTS OF LODGING AND $178,000 IN COST SAVINGS TO FAMILIES. LODGING: THE RONALD MCDONALD FAMILY ROOM AT CHILDREN'S, ST PAUL, WITH FOUR OVERNIGHT ROOMS, PRIMARILY SERVES FAMILIES FROM THE EAST METRO, INCLUDING WISCONSIN. IN 2021, THIS SITE SERVED 62 FAMILIES, PROVIDED 950 NIGHTS OF LODGING AND $193,000 IN COST SAVINGS TO FAMILIES. LODGING: THE RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE NORTHLAND IN DULUTH, MN OPENED IN FEBRUARY 2021 TO SERVE FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN UNDERGOING TREATMENT AT ESSENTIA HEALTH. IN 2021 80 INDIVIDUAL FAMILIES UTILIZED RMH NORTHLAND WITH 739 NIGHTS OF LODGING AND $185,000 IN COST SAVINGS.

VOLUNTEER SERVICES: VOLUNTEERS ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF HOW RMHC-UM'S MISSION IS EXECUTED RESOURCEFULLY AND ACCORDING TO NONPROFIT SERVICE INDUSTRY BEST PRACTICES. THROUGH EVALUATION AND ACCORDING TO INDUSTRY STANDARDS, RMHC UM'S VOLUNTEER DEPARTMENT SUCCESSFULLY BECAME CERTIFED IN 2018 AS A SERVICE ENTERPRISE ORGANIZATION. THE CERTIFICATION RECOGNIZES THE ORGANIZATION'S ROBUST VOLUNTEER ENGAGEMENT AND ITS OPERATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE, NOTABLY, OUR COOKS FOR KIDS MEAL PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES DINNER NIGHTLY. CROSS DEPARTMENT COLLABORATION OCCURS ENSURING THAT VOLUNTEERS SUPPORT THE NEEDS OF ALL AREAS OF THE ORGANIZATION (I.E. ADMIN SUPPORT, ROOM REFRESHERS, MEAL HOSTS, ETC.).IN 2021, RMH ENGAGED 1,600 VOLUNTEERS, A REDUCTION FROM PRE-PANDEMIC LEVELS DUE TO CONTINUED SOCIAL DISTANCING. WE DID CREATE ADDITIONAL ACTIVITIES VOLUNTEERS COULD DO FROM HOME OR OFFICE.

FAMILY SERVICES: THE RMH SCHOOL RETURNED TO IN-PERSON LEARNING IN THE FALL OF 2021, AS DID THE AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAM. ACROSS OUR FIVE LOCATIONS, MUCH OF OUR PROGRAMMING WAS IN-PERSON WITH PROPER COVID PROTOCOLS. POPULAR ACTIVITIES INCLUDED: FAMILY GAME NIGHT/BINGO, ADULT EXERCISE AND ACTIVITIES, KID ART AND SCIENCE CLASSES, AND COMMUNITY-BASED EXPERIENCES AND FIELD TRIPS. IN ADDITION, RMH OFFERS PROGRAMS OTHER SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL SUPPORT TO FAMILY INCLUDING: CARING FOR THE CAREGIVER, SIB SHOP AND RECREATIONAL OUTINGS FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY.