Photos courtesy of Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Ohio
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Major expansion of offerings defines world’s largest Ronald McDonald House
Being in the hospital is often a trying experience, and not just for the patient.
Loved ones often face big challenges of their own. And now, for those big challenges, there’s the biggest Ronald McDonald House in the world to meet them.
The house is there for families of children who face extended stays at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. While the hospital does everything in its power to comfort patients and their families, there isn’t much it can offer to those not directly facing a medical challenge. But the stress and emotional toll of having a young family member in the hospital long-term is something that can be attended to right across the street, where the house acts as a second home for families.
The Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Ohio’s goal is to work toward improving the health and well-being of children in central Ohio through finding, supporting and creating programs with the aid of the community. The Ronald McDonald House itself is the most prominent symbol of this mission.
Most families come from the Columbus area, but because Nationwide Children’s is a national and even international draw, some are from other states and even other countries. Families are asked to pay a $20 donation per night, but no one is ever turned away for financial reasons.
The original Ronald McDonald House in Columbus opened in March 1982. In 2008, the building had 80 rooms, making it one of the largest Ronald McDonald Houses in the world. But even with so much space, it was nearly full on a nightly basis.
Photo courtesy of Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Ohio
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The community donated over $6.5 million in only 10 months to fund an expansion project in 2013. In September 2014, the 57-room expansion was finished.
“With a total of 137 guest rooms, the Columbus Ronald McDonald House is the largest in the world,” says Ryan Wilkins, senior director of communications and facilities for the charity.
All the comforts of home can be found at the house. Along with rooms to stay in, families have full access to laundry facilities and a kitchen where meals are prepared by volunteers.
On top of the normal amenities, there is a myriad of specialty rooms that families can enjoy, including:
-A library with several thousand books, all donated by the community;
-A media room equipped with free Dish Network access and DVDs to check out;
-A room decked out with Columbus Blue Jackets gear, including a Zamboni for kids to ride on;
-An exercise room filled with fitness equipment supplied by the Columbus Crew;
-A baseball-themed family room sporting couches and TVs;
-A spa room outfitted by Thirty-One Gifts, where parents and kids can enjoy primping and pampering during their stay; and
-A “princess room,” furnished by the Lady Jackets, with all the pink princess paraphernalia a child could ask for – costumes and castle included – that’s every girl’s favorite room in the house, Wilkins says.
“Sometimes we have families come in, and the first thing they ask is where the princess room is,” he says.
Additional amenities were added outside. These include a rooftop garden, an expanded green space with a playground and splash pad, and five single-family houses, turning the area into a six-acre campus dedicated to health and well-being. The single-family homes are for families with specialized needs, such as large family size or a need to stay for longer than six months.
The vast majority of the work done at the house is done by volunteers. In a year, more than 300 volunteers work nearly 86,000 hours of work for the Ronald McDonald House.
“Word of mouth is our best bet,” says Wilkins. “Volunteers who have worked with us before tend to be our best advocates.”
Volunteering isn’t the only way to help out; donations and sponsorship programs are also available. Those looking to assist can find more information at www.rmhc-centralohio.org.
Kyle Banfill is a contributing writer. Feedback welcome at gbishop@cityscenemediagroup.com.
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-The Bunker party, which raised money for the expansion
-House supporter Monsignor Joseph Hendricks
-Pickerington high schools’ Club Hope, which has helped families at the house
