Making it Possible for Children to Get Critically Needed Healthcare

Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Washington DC® (RMHC DC) provides sick children what they need the most… their families.    Helping a sick child fight their illness takes a big enough emotional toll on a family.  Adding a financial strain can make it all almost too much to bear.  Further, accessing needed health care remains an issue for thousands of underserved children.  RMHC DC helps address those problems through 3 core programs that provide the stability and resources to strengthen families during difficult times.   They help children heal and cope better.

Keeping Families Together During Times of Medical Crises

RMHC DC plays an important role in keeping families together during times of medical crises. Their cornerstone program, Ronald McDonald House®, allows families to access top medical care for a seriously ill child, even if they have to travel long distances.  The Houses improve the family’s coping and cohesion and the child’s recovery and outcomes.  They allow families to concentrate on spending more time with their children and provide families with emotional and physical comfort and support.  While their child is hospitalized at a local hospital, families may stay 6 days, 6 months or longer at the House that Love Built, at little or no cost.

Providing Access to Comprehensive Health Care Services to Children at Risk

Did you know that each year, nearly 10 million children die worldwide, mostly from preventable and treatable causes?  But those numbers don’t have to be that high.  They don’t have to exist at all!  RMHC DC strives to be part of the solution by providing free health care for some of our most vulnerable children – right in their neighborhood.  Since 2003, their KIDS Mobile Medical Clinic/Ronald McDonald Care Mobile® has provided more than 20,000 patient visits to children and adolescents living in underserved communities of the District of Columbia who are at risk and have poor access to comprehensive pediatric health care services.  During the last year, they provided more than 1,750 medical visits to 900 children who live in Wards 5, 6, 7 and 8.  They also provided more than 267 mental health and social service interventions.    The mobile clinic also provides oral hygiene education, as well as primary care and immunizations, vision care, and nutrition counseling.

Working together, individuals, companies, and organizations’ support can help change a child’s life.    Broken down into real life, it costs $175 for five flu shots, or $147 for a family to stay one night at the local Ronald McDonald Houses.   Because of their community of friends’ help over the last 35 years, families have been able to stay 175,500 nights at either of their Ronald McDonald Houses; thousands of children received free health care through their KIDS Mobile Medical Clinic/Ronald McDonald Care Mobile; and thousands of families have used their Ronald McDonald Family Room® (RMFR)  at Children’s National.  A families’ presence in the hospital – just steps away from their child – helps children cope better.   Using their RMFR potentially leads to a more positive hospital experience for the family. 

Working together, children will have a better tomorrow.  Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Washington DC is grateful for the community of friends who give the gift of hope and health.