Ronald Mcdonald House Charities Of Southwest Florida Inc

RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE CHARITIES OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA'S MISSION IS TO CREATE,FIND AND SUPPORT PROGRAMS THAT DIRECTLY IMPACT THE HEALTH AND WELL- BEING OF CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES IN THE FIVE-COUNTY REGION WE SERVE.

RMHC PROVIDES STABILITY AND VITAL RESOURCES TO FAMILIES SO THEY CAN GET AND KEEP THEIR CHILD HEALTHY AND HAPPY THROUGH THE CHARITIES' CORE PROGRAMS: 1) RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE PROVIDES A "HOME AWAY FROM HOME" FOR FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN UNDERGOING MEDICAL TREATMENT AT GOLISANO CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL AS WELL AS LONGER-TERM OUT-PATIENT MEDICAL FACILITIES IN THE AREA. 2) THE RONALD MCDONALD FAMILY ROOM LOCATED ON THE SECOND FLOOR OF GOLISANO CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL PROVIDES FAMILIES OF HOSPITALIZED CHILDREN USE OF THIS SPACE TO REST AND RE-GROUP WHILE BEING JUST MINUTES AWAY FROM THEIR CHILD'S BEDSIDE. 3) THE TWO RONALD MCDONALD CARE MOBILES PROVIDE MEDICAL AND DENTAL SCREENINGS, TREATMENT, AND SEALANTS TO UNDERSERVED AREAS OF COLLIER, LEE, AND HENDRY COUNTIES. SINCE 1996, RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE CHARITIES (RMHC) OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA HAS PROVIDED TEMPORARY HOUSING TO THE FAMILIES OF SERIOUSLY ILL CHILDREN HOSPITALIZED AT THE ADJACENT GOLISANO CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA. SERVICES HAVE EXPANDED TO INCLUDE THE RONALD MCDONALD CARE MOBILE PROGRAM AND A RONALD MCDONALD FAMILY ROOM LOCATED INSIDE GOLISANO CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL. THROUGH OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH GOLISANO CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL, OUR GUESTS AND VISITORS CAN EASILY BE WITH THEIR PRECIOUS NEWBORNS THAT CAME INTO THIS WORLD A LITTLE SOONER THAN PLANNED OR AT THE BEDSIDE OF THEIR CHILD HOSPITALIZED DUE TO ILLNESS OR INJURY. WHATEVER THE REASON THAT OUR PATHS CROSS, IT IS A TRUE GIFT BEING PART OF THIS "HOME-AWAY-FROM-HOME" FOR MOMS AND DADS, GRANDPARENTS, AND SIBLINGS DURING THE MOST CHALLENGING TIME OF THEIR LIVES. AT RMHC, EACH FAMILY RECEIVES PRIVATE AND SAFE ACCOMMODATIONS, NOURISHING MEALS, CLOSE ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE AND THE KINDHEARTED SUPPORT OF OUR STAFF, VOLUNTEERS, AND OTHER RMHC FAMILIES WHO ARE FACING SIMILAR CHALLENGES. THE GIFT OF TOGETHERNESS PROVIDED BY OUR HOUSE ALLOWS PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS TO FOCUS ON THEIR TOP PRIORITY: THE HEALTH AND HEALING OF THEIR CHILD. ALTHOUGH COVID-19 FORCED US TO SUSPEND OUR HOUSE PROGRAM IN APRIL 2020, WE WERE FORTUNATE THAT CONSTRUCTION ON OUR SIX-BEDROOM HOUSE EXPANSION WAS DEEMED ESSENTIAL. A BLESSING IN DISGUISE, AS OUR GUEST FAMILIES DID NOT HAVE TO ENDURE THE ENVIRONMENT OF DIRT, DUST, NOISE AND CONSTRUCTION WORKERS AND VENDORS IN AND OUT OF THE HOUSE. THE HOUSE EXPANSION WAS COMPLETED IN THE FALL OF 2020. THE HOUSE RE-OPENED AT PHASE I (UP TO 25% OCCUPANCY) IN FEBRUARY 2021. THROUGH THE END OF 2021, THE HOUSE REMAINED OPEN AT PHASE III (UP TO 75% OCCUPANCY). COVID RESTRICTIONS WERE NOT LIMITED TO THE HOUSE PROGRAM. OUR TWO CARE MOBILES PROVIDED MEDICAL AND/OR DENTAL SCREENINGS AND VARNISHES TO 3,246 CHILDREN IN ALL OF 2021. WITH DENTAL SERVICES SUSPENDED DUE TO COVID, THE VEHICLES WERE RE-PURPOSED FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. IN LIEU OF PEDIATRIC DENTAL SERVICES, OUR PARTNERS AT HEALTHCARE NETWORK OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA AND FAMILY HEALTH CENTERS OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA USED THE VEHICLES TO PROVIDE VACCINES TO NEWBORNS THROUGHOUT COLLIER AND LEE COUNTIES. DENTAL SCREENING AND SERVICES RESUMED ON BOTH CARE MOBILES IN 2021 FOR A TOTAL OF 5,790 CHILDREN SERVED. COVID ALSO FORCED US TO SUSPEND OUR RONALD MCDONALD FAMILY ROOM PROGRAM ON THE SECOND FLOOR OF GOLISANO CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL. THE FAMILY ROOM RE-OPENED IN MAY 2021 AND SERVED A TOTAL OF 333 FAMILIES (532 VISITS) BY THE END OF THE YEAR. THERE ARE SEVERAL WAYS THAT THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY SUPPORTS RMHC. FOR SOME, IT IS AN ANNUAL FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION; FOR OTHERS IT IS PARTICIPATING IN OR SPONSORING ONE OF OUR MANY FUNDRAISING EVENTS. DUE TO COVID RESTRICTION, RMHC WAS ONLY ABLE TO CO-HOST ONE EVENT IN 2021, THE ANNUAL GRAMPY'S PRO AM GOLF TOURNAMENT, HELD IN DECEMBER. VOLUNTEERS PLAY AN INTEGRAL ROLE IN THE MISSION AND OPERATION OF RMHC. DESPITE THE GRADUAL RE-OPENING OF PROGRAMS IN 2021, RMHC VOLUNTEERS PROVIDED 3,466 HOURS OF SERVICE TO THE ORGANIZATION. IN 2021, RMHC HOSTED AND SERVED 47 FAMILIES AT THE RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE FOR AN AVERAGE LENGTH OF STAY OF 19 NIGHTS. THE RONALD MCDONALD FAMILY ROOM PROGRAM DISTRIBUTED 460 BROWN BAG LUNCHES FOR ANY FAMILY WITH A CHILD IN THE HOSPITAL. 5,790 CHILDREN RECEIVED MEDICAL/DENTAL AND HEALTH EDUCATION SERVICES ON BOARD THE RONALD MCDONALD CARE MOBILE IN COLLIER, LEE, AND HENDRY COUNTIES.