Keeping Families Close™

when it matters most

A place for rest, meals, and support
while your child is receiving medical care

We know...

When your child is ill and needs medical care,
your normal life stops.

And when medical care is away from home, you need to make calls, reschedule work, be certain the rest of your family is cared for, and figure out a place to stay during the care.

Without support from people and places, you could spend thousands of dollars on travel, lodging, and food to stay as close to your child as possible.
These stresses on top of your child’s needs and medical expenses can be overwhelming and exhausting.
• • •
And when you are exhausted and stressed, remaining clear-minded to best care for your child can be challenging.
• • •
That’s why we are here.

Ronald McDonald House Charities® of the Red River Valley
is here to support you,
so you can support your child.

Keeping Families Close™
Providing home-like comfort, support, and care for families.

We provide families

Because children heal better when their family is close...
and their families stay healthier too.

Impact Statistics

Proximity to the Hospital Provides Important Psychosocial Benefits

A study published in Families, Systems, & Health analyzed responses from over 2,000 family members and concluded that close proximity to the hospital, facilitated by accommodations such as Ronald McDonald Houses, provides important benefits for the family experience, psychological wellbeing, and perceptions of child recovery. Franck et al., Families, Systems, & Health (2013)

Parents of Hospitalized Children Experience High Levels of Stress & Anxiety

The StayClose study, conducted in the UK, found that almost two-thirds of parents, whose children were hospitalized for at least three days, had borderline/clinical levels of anxiety, and 38 percent of those experienced a similar level of anxiety three months after their child’s discharge. While hospitals provide medical care, the Ronald McDonald Houses provide a “home-away-from-home”, which may help alleviate stress and anxiety, thereby improving their ability to participate in the care of their child receiving medical treatment. Wray et al., Journal of Child Health Care (2011)

Parents Get Better Sleep at Ronald McDonald Houses

A study published in Behavioral Sleep Medicine found parents who slept at a Ronald McDonald House had better sleep quality than parents sleeping at their child’s bedside, which is likely to help parents participate more thoroughly in their child’s care as they are better-rested. Franck et al., Behavioral Sleep Medicine (2013)

What families say

• Hover your cursor over the testimonial to pause the slide and read the testimonial •

"We were focused on the health and care of our children, trying to learn all this new medical jargon and understand their needs and care, while Kyle also traveled back and forth to Williston to keep things going at work.

Having volunteers cook meals was so wonderful. It's such a difficult time for families and not having to worry about cooking on top of everything else was so great.

We were able to spend as much time as possible with our babies, holding, reading, singing, snuggling...This helped with bonding and providing consistent love and care, which helps babies to grow and develop."

"I never expected to be in a situation where my family and I needed the Ronald McDonald House. No parent does.

And there are no words to describe the relief, gratitude, and overwhelming emotion we felt the first time we walked through their doors.
They took numerous stressors off our plate and allowed us to focus on what was important – our son recovering and growing strong enough to come home.

He turned 4 on July 16, 2019, and is as healthy, spunky, and full of sass as any other 4-year-old out there!"

"The love and support from the staff, the amenities that were offered for all ages, and all of the giving… You gave us peace of mind knowing we could be with her daily.

It is hard to put in words, and at times I was speechless from all that you do for families. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts and are eternally grateful for the Ronald McDonald house and staff.

Today, Ella has blossomed into a happy and healthy six-month-old who loves to laugh and play with her toys."

"We love to share about RMHC whenever we can because we know the amazing impact it had on us and others.It was amazing, comfortable, and we were overwhelmed by the generosity of gifts, meals, and volunteers!

We know first-hand now how much of a difference the meals and time donated by a group can make in a day when you are focused on caring for a little one in the hospital.

Today baby Jacob is strong and can keep up with the rest of his siblings. They love to swim, fish, and go on road trips together!"

“We want to have that empathy feeling for others.

Yes, we’re going through a lot right now, but we want to care for people staying here and the kitchen is where we can do that because it’s a community space.

We’ve met a lot of very nice people down in the kitchen. We’re all hurting in one way or another, but we’re also all here for the same reason – comfort and healing.”

Support Us

Our donors and volunteers make this house a home for families who need us.
We invite you to become part of this special team of people.

the Journal

There’s always something going on at our House.
• Click the button below the image to read the article on LinkedIn •

Get our News!

Provide your name and email address
below to subscribe to our newsletter and receive our other news too!

We don’t like our contact information shared and sold,
so we will not share or sell yours.

Keeping Families Close™

when it matters most

A place for rest, meals, and supportwhile your child is receiving medical care

stay close

get rest & support

help your child heal

We know...

When your child is ill and needs medical care, your normal life stops.

Ronald McDonald House Charities® of the Red River Valley is here to support you, so you can support your child.

Keeping Families Close™Providing home-like comfort, support, and care for families.

We provide families

A Room+

Dinner & Food

Support

Ronald McDonald Family Room

A Room+

Dinner & Food

Support

Ronald McDonald House Family Room

Because children heal better when their family is close... and their families stay healthier too.

Impact Statistics

Proximity to the Hospital Provides Important Psychosocial Benefits

Parents of Hospitalized Children Experience High Levels of Stress & Anxiety

Parents Get Better Sleep at Ronald McDonald Houses

What families say

Support Us

the Journal

Get our News!

Provide your name and email address below to subscribe to our newsletter and receive our other news too!

Here for you

HOUSE & ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES

Address:<a style="color: #333333;"4757 Agassiz Crossing SouthFargo, North Dakota 58104

Follow Us

Contact Us

A place for rest, meals, and support
while your child is receiving medical care

When your child is ill and needs medical care,
your normal life stops.

Ronald McDonald House Charities® of the Red River Valley
is here to support you,
so you can support your child.

Keeping Families Close™
Providing home-like comfort, support, and care for families.

Because children heal better when their family is close...
and their families stay healthier too.

Provide your name and email address
below to subscribe to our newsletter and receive our other news too!

Address:
<a style="color: #333333;"4757 Agassiz Crossing South
Fargo, North Dakota 58104