Staying With Us
Who can stay
Any family with a child under 21 years of age who is hospitalized or receiving outpatient treatment at a nearby hospital or medical facility is eligible to stay at our Houses. While we ask families to donate $15 per night for their stay, families are never turned away due to an inability to contribute.
Families and their children are welcome to stay at our Houses for as long as their child is under active medical care, and they may stay for the duration of their child’s treatment regardless of how long that may be. Stays at our Houses can be as short as one night or as long as several months, depending on a child’s illness or treatment.
What we offer
We help families physically, economically, and emotionally during their child’s healthcare journey, reducing stress and financial burden for families when they must travel far from home to access medical care. Ronald McDonald House Charities of Connecticut and Western Massachusetts operates two Houses serving families around the world: The Ronald McDonald House of Connecticut and The Ronald McDonald House of Springfield.
In addition to providing safe, comfortable accommodations and a caring environment, our Ronald McDonald Houses allow families to find a strong support system and establish relationships with other families who are facing similar anxieties, hardships and uncertainties. It is our goal for all families to find a home away from home and feel actively supported during tumultuous times.
House amenities
Staying at our Houses ensures that families can focus on the health of their children, rather than burdens like grocery shopping, cooking meals, or doing laundry.
In each of our handicap accessible Houses, families are provided with a private guest room with a bathroom. In addition, each House has a large kitchen, a common dining room, a living room, and indoor and outdoor play areas. We also provide our families with:
- Secure space in kitchen areas for personal food items, beverages and dry goods
- Accessibility to a communal pantry and fresh food items
- Private in-room refrigerator storage for medicine or breast milk
- Complete bedding sets and linens for use during your stay
- Free on-site laundry facilities
How to stay with us
Each Ronald McDonald House accepts referrals from the healthcare provider or social services department of the hospital or facility where a family’s child is being treated. To join the waitlist to stay at our House in Connecticut or Springfield, contact social services at the hospital or facility where your child will receive treatment. If you have questions about arranging a stay or receiving a referral, please reach out to our team.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ronald McDonald Houses are owned and operated by local chapters of Ronald McDonald House Charities® (RMHC), based in Chicago, Illinois. Each local chapter is licensed by McDonald’s Corporation and operates as an IRS-designated 501(c) 3 not-for-profit organization. While all chapters are part of the overall RMHC system, each is overseen at the local level by its own Board of Directors and is supported by individuals, organizations, businesses, and foundations within the local community.
Ronald McDonald House Charities of Connecticut & Western Massachusetts is an independent, community supported, 501(c) 3 not-for-profit organization. A Board of Directors governs the Chapter and is responsible for policy making, governance and financial oversight. The Board is composed of community, medical and McDonald’s representatives. The Board hires the Executive Director who manages the ongoing operations including staffing, public relations, strategic planning and fundraising. In addition to the small staff, we have over 100 volunteers who cover daily and weekly shifts at the House, as well as provide help during our major fundraising events.
The partnership between McDonald’s Corporation and Ronald McDonald House Charities and its programs dates back to the inception of the charitable organization. Collectively McDonald’s utilize their restaurants, advertising dollars, packaging and crew to create customer awareness and support of the charity. Ronald McDonald House Charities® and the McDonald’s Corporation (Owner Operators, employees, customers and vendors) also provide financial support for Ronald McDonald House Charities of Connecticut & Western Massachusetts. A portion of our annual operating budget is received through the support of the local McDonald’s Owners Operators. They also participate in fundraisers, volunteer their time at special events, and serve on our Board of Directors.
The vast majority of funding needed to operate our Ronald McDonald Houses is provided by communities served by the Houses – individuals, corporations, foundations, and civic groups. The Chapter raises funds in a variety of ways, including special events, major gift programs, annual fund, grant requests, direct mail, planned giving, and Pop Tab programs. The Chapter also receives donor designated funds through the United Way.
In addition to providing safe and comfortable accommodations and a caring environment, Ronald McDonald House allows families to find a strong support system, establishing friendships with other families facing similar anxieties, hardships, and uncertainties. A family may stay at our Houses whether the child is hospitalized or receiving outpatient treatment.
Each year, our two Ronald McDonald Houses serve hundreds of families. Each family has a private guest room with a bathroom. In addition, each house has a large kitchen, a common dining room, a living room, and indoor and outdoor play areas. The Houses are also handicapped accessible.
Top medical reasons families visit the House are for:
- Premature Birth
- Oncology
- Orthopedic Surgeries and Prosthetics
Families are asked to donate $15 per night; however no family is ever turned away due to the inability to contribute. On average it costs $120 a night to operate each guest room.
Families of a pediatric patient, who is 21 years or younger, under current medical care.
The Ronald McDonald House only accepts referrals from the healthcare provider or social services department of the hospital where the patient is being treated. It is the responsibility of the healthcare provider or social worker to pre-screen the family to ensure that they meet RMHC requirements. If the family is eligible to stay at the House, the healthcare provider or social worker will then make the referral request.
The patient’s nurse or physician should be able to direct you to social services, or you can go to the hospital information desk.
A referral does not guarantee that a room will become available. A referral simply places the family on the waiting list.
If a room becomes available, the Family Services Team will contact the family and give further instructions about checking in.
Bring a photo ID for all adults, 18 and older, who will be staying overnight.
Unlike hotels, the Ronald McDonald House allows each family only one room. Each individual guest family is responsible for cleaning their own room, including linens. The Ronald McDonald House is a community living setting. There are many communal areas including living and dining areas as well as a full-size kitchen. In addition, each family is given a secure storage space, in the refrigerator and freezer, in the kitchen area for personal items including food, drink or dry goods. The refrigerator and freezer areas for families are not secure, just the non-perishable pantry areas. If the family needs to store medicine or breast milk, they will be given a mini-fridge in their room.
A complete set of bedding is provided by the House for you to use during your entire stay. Free laundry facilities are available for you.
Need more help?
Our community, staff and leadership are here to serve our families in their time of need. If you have additional questions about Ronald McDonald House Charities or about staying at our Houses, please feel free to reach out to our team.
Make a difference for families in need
Every day, families face the challenge of having a child in the hospital, and your generosity helps Ronald McDonald House Charities of Connecticut and Western Massachusetts keep them together. Learn more about our programs and join our community of supporters.