Ronald Mcdonald House Charities Of Idaho Inc

TO PROVIDE TEMPORARY HOUSING FOR FAMILIES OF SERIOUSLY ILL CHILDREN WHILE RECEIVING TREATMENT.

RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE PROGRAM: IN FEBRUARY OF 2020 A NEW 47-ROOM RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE OPENED ITS DOORS, MORE THAN DOUBLING THE SIZE OF THE PREVIOUS FACILITY. THIS PROJECT WAS THE CULMINATION OF YEARS OF PLANNING AND A SUCCESSFUL CAPITAL CAMPAIGN. MORE THAN 800 FAMILIES WITH HOSPITALIZED CHILDREN CALLED THE RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE HOME IN 2021. EVEN WITH THE PANDEMIC OCCURRING, THE HOUSE CONTINUED TO PROVIDE SHELTER FOR FAMILIES FROM ACROSS IDAHO, EASTERN OREGON, NORTHERN NEVADA, SEVERAL STATES, AND COUNTRIES OUTSIDE OF THE US. THESE FAMILIES WERE ABLE TO STAY AT THE HOUSE DURING THEIR CHILD'S MEDICAL TREATMENT. THE AVERAGE LENGTH OF STAY WAS 12 DAYS AND OVER 3/4 OF THE FAMILIES THAT USED THE HOUSE PAID NOTHING OUT-OF-POCKET FOR THEIR STAY. A NOMINAL $10 PER DAY DONATION IS REQUESTED, HOWEVER, NO ONE IS TURNED AWAY IF THEY ARE UNABLE TO PAY. BECAUSE WE WORK WITH VULNERABLE FAMILIES, WE'VE HAD TO INCREASE OUR HEALTH AND SAFETY MEASURES FOR THE PANDEMIC, SO ADDITIONAL SPENDING ON PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT, STRICT SANITATION, AND DISTANCING MEASURES WAS ADOPTED, AND WE SUSPENDED OUR VOLUNTEER PROGRAM OUT OF SAFETY CONCERNS DURING THE PANDEMIC. VOLUNTEERS RETURNED IN A REDUCED CAPACITY IN JUNE OF 2021.WITH THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, MANY THINGS IN THE WORLD OF HEALTHCARE CHANGED. RMHC IDAHO WORKED CLOSELY WITH PARTNER HOSPITALS TO HELP IDENTIFY NEEDS WE COULD FILL FOR FAMILIES WITH SICK CHILDREN. THE ABILITY TO SUPPORT FAMILIES WITH MEALS AND SNACKS WAS THE MOST URGENT NEED SO WE STEPPED FORWARD TO BUILD A TEMPORARY HOSPITAL MEAL PROGRAM. IN BOISE, OUT OF THE HOUSE PROGRAM, WE BEGAN MAKING LUNCHES 4 TIMES A WEEK AND DELIVERING THESE HEALTHY MEALS TO OUR PARTNER HOSPITALS, ST. LUKE'S CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL AND SAINT ALPHONSUS PEDIATRICS. THE NUMBERS VARIED THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, BUT IN 2021 7,525 MEALS AND SNACK BAGS WERE PROVIDED TO FAMILIES IN THE HOSPITAL. THIS ALLOWED PARENTS TO REMAIN NOURISHED AND AT THE CHILD'S BEDSIDE, VERY IMPORTANT WHEN THE VISITATION POLICY ALLOWED ONLY ONE PARENT TO VISIT A DAY (DUE TO THE RISK OF INFECTION WITH MULTIPLE PEOPLE AT THE BEDSIDE). LUNCHES WERE DELIVERED JANUARY THROUGH JUNE 2021 AND SNACK BAGS WERE DELIVERED THROUGHOUT 2021.

FAMILY ROOM PROGRAM: THE RONALD MCDONALD FAMILY ROOM IS LOCATED INSIDE OF EASTERN IDAHO REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER IN IDAHO FALLS, IDAHO. THE RONALD MCDONALD FAMILY ROOM PROVIDES A COMFORTABLE AND SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT WITHIN THE HOSPITAL WHERE FAMILIES CAN STAY CLOSE TO THEIR CHILD WITHOUT HAVING TO SPEND ALL THEIR TIME IN A CRITICAL CARE ENVIRONMENT. IN 2021, THE FAMILY ROOM SERVED 648 UNIQUE FAMILIES TOTALING ALMOST 2,700 VISITS AND OVERNIGHT STAYS FOR 86 FAMILIES. THE SPACE ALLOWS FAMILIES ROOM WHERE THEY CAN EAT, RELAX, DO LAUNDRY, AND EVEN NAP OR SLEEP COMFORTABLY OVERNIGHT IN A PRIVATE BEDROOM SO THAT PARENTS CAN BE BETTER RESTED AND ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THEIR CHILD'S CARE. THE AVERAGE LENGTH OF STAY WAS 7 DAYS AND 100% OF FAMILIES PAID NOTHING OUT-OF-POCKET TO STAY. RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE CHARITIES OF IDAHO STAFF FULLY SUPPORTED THE FAMILY ROOM AS WE HAD NO VOLUNTEERS DURING THE PANDEMIC UNTIL THEY RETURNED IN LIMITED CAPACITY IN JUNE 2021. THE FAMILY ROOM SERVED 577 MEALS FOR FAMILIES IN 2021.

HOSPITALITY CART PROGRAM: IN SEPTEMBER OF 2017 A HOSPITALITY CART PROGRAM WAS LAUNCHED AT TWO REGIONAL HOSPITALS, SAINT ALPHONSUS PEDIATRICS AND ST. LUKE'S CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL. RMHCI CUT THE RIBBON ON A 3RD HOSPITALITY CART IN THE MAGIC VALLEY IN JULY OF 2019. THE CARTS ARE RUN BY VOLUNTEERS TWICE A WEEK. THEY ARE DESIGNED TO SERVE FAMILIES WHO WAIT FOR HOURS WITHOUT LEAVING THE HOSPITAL OR THEIR CHILD'S BEDSIDE. THE CARTS BRING PARENTS A HOT BEVERAGE AND SNACK WHILE KEEPING THE LITTLE ONES ENTERTAINED WITH BOOKS, TOYS, AND FUN ACTIVITIES. DUE TO THE PANDEMIC, THE CART PROGRAM WAS SUSPENDED IN MID-MARCH OF 2020, AND A HOSPITAL MEAL PROGRAM DELIVERY WAS SET UP TO FILL THE NEED FOR FAMILIES IN THE HOSPITAL DURING 2021.