Ronald Mcdonald House Charities Of Jacksonville Inc

SUPPORTS THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF CHILDREN BY PROVIDING LODGING AND OTHER SERVICES FOR CRITICALLY ILL, CHRONICALLY ILL AND SERIOUSLY INJURED CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES WHO NEED TO BE NEAR A HOSPITAL FOR PEDIATRIC HEALTHCARE.

RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE CHARITIES OF JACKSONVILLE WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1988. IN ITS 33 YEARS OF OPERATION, WE HAVE BEEN A TEMPORARY "HOME AWAY FROM HOME" TO OVER 42,000 FAMILIES WHO ARE SEEKING MEDICAL TREATMENT FOR THEIR CHILD IN JACKSONVILLE. EACH YEAR WE SUPPORT FIVE HOSPITALS AND MEDICAL FACILITIES PROVIDING PEDIATRIC TREATMENT IN JACKSONVILLE: WOLFSON CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL, NEMOURS CHILDREN'S SPECIALTY CLINIC, UF HEALTH JACKSONVILLE, UF HEALTH PROTON THERAPY INSTITUTE AND BROOKS REHABILITATION. WE ARE HOST TO FAMILIES FROM ALL OVER THE STATE OF FLORIDA, ALL OVER THE NATION, AND ALL OVER THE GLOBE. AT RMHC JACKSONVILLE, FAMILIES WILL FIND NOT ONLY LODGING, MEALS, AND TRANSPORTATION, BUT ALSO AN EXTRAORDINARY EXPERIENCE OF COMPASSIONATE CARE. 2021 WAS AN UNPRECEDENTED SECOND YEAR OF DEALING WITH CORONAVIRUS. RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE OF JACKSONVILLE CONTINUED, AS WE DID IN 2020, COMMITTING OURSELVES TO SAFEGUARDING OUR FAMILIES, STAFF, AND VOLUNTEERS FROM THE SPREAD OF COVID-19 BY ALIGNING OURSELVES WITH THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CENTER FOR DISEASE CONTROL, OUR GLOBAL RMHC PARTNER, AND IMPORTANTLY THE LEADERSHIP ADVICE OF OUR LOCAL HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS. UNDERSTANDING THE LOCAL EPIDEMIOLOGICAL FACTORS AND LEARNING HOW TO IMPLEMENT THE EVERCHANGING CDC PROTOCOLS BECAME CRITICAL TO KEEPING OUR FAMILIES AND MISSION SAFE. IT WAS A TIME OF REPEATED 'ONE STEP FORWARD, ONE STEP BACKWARD,' AS WE KEPT PREPARING OURSELVES AND OUR FACILITY TO 'OPEN BACK UP' ONLY TO HAVE ANOTHER SURGE COME AND DELAY OUR PLANS. WE READ VORACIOUSLY ON THE VIRUS, ITS EFFECTS, ITS GROWTH, ITS DANGEROUSNESS, ITS MUTATIONS, AND HOW ALL THAT INFORMATION WAS AFFECTING US NATIONALLY AND LOCALLY. WE CONTINUED TRAINING IN THE KNOWLEDGE OF CORONAVIRUS TRANSMISSION, IMPLEMENTING THE CDC PROTOCOLS OF SOCIAL DISTANCING, MASK WEARING, TEMPERATURE TAKING, CLEANING, AND DISINFECTING POLICIES AND HAND HYGIENE. LOCAL BUSINESSES WERE NOT ALWAYS IN AGREEMENT WITH WHETHER MASKS AND SOCIAL DISTANCING WERE REQUIRED. GIVEN THE CRITICAL HEALTH OF THE CHILDREN WHO STAY WITH US THE RISK OF TRANSMISSION WAS HIGH IN A COMMUNAL SETTING. MANY FAMILIES STILL SELF-SELECTED TO DELAY TREATMENT OR DRIVE LONG DISTANCES FOR TREATMENT. WE WERE STAFFED WITH A KNOWLEDGEABLE AND HEALTHY TEAM AND WITH A STRATEGY THAT PROVIDED THE SAFEST POSSIBLE ENVIRONMENT FOR FAMILIES TO RETURN TO LIVING COMMUNALLY. WE WERE EXTREMELY CAREFUL WITH OUR DECISION MAKING AND CONTINUED TO FOLLOW THE LEAD OF OUR PRIMARY HEALTHCARE PARTNERS. ALL RONALD MCDONALD HOUSES ACROSS THE WORLD HAD A STRATEGIC 5-PHASED REOPENING OF THEIR MISSION AND PROGRAMS. THESE PHASES EMBRACED THE STRATEGIES OF MODIFICATION, RENEWAL, MOMENTUM, STRONGER AND MISSION FORWARD. PRIMARILY, OUR MISSION WAS TRANSFORMED TO COMPLY WITH CDC PROTOCOLS, YET WE FOUND WAYS TO DELIVER OUR MISSION IN THE MODIFICATION PHASE OF 2021 WITH THE CARE AND COMPASSION THAT IS THE HALLMARK OF OUR MISSION. OUR COMMUNITY OF COMPASSIONATE CARE IS ANCHORED BY OUR EXPERIENCED FAMILY SERVICES STAFF DEDICATED TO THE WELL-BEING OF OUR FAMILIES. THEY STRIVE TO WELCOME EVERY FAMILY, ENGAGING THEM DAILY AND MAKING RMHC JACKSONVILLE THEIR COMFORTING AND TEMPORARY "HOME AWAY FROM HOME." OUR EXPERIENCED STAFF PROVIDED EXCEPTIONAL CARE THROUGH THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF THE INCREASED STRESS ON PARENTS AND CHILDREN DURING A PANDEMIC.FROM CHECK-IN TO MEAL PREPARATION, ZOOM MEET AND GREETS, LIMITED COMMUNAL AREA ACCESS, DELIVERING KIDZONE LEARNING CENTER KITS TO THE CHILDREN IN THEIR ROOMS, CELEBRATED BIRTHDAYS AND INDIVIDUAL VAN TRANSPORTATION TO THE HOSPITALS - OUR STAFF CONTINUED WITH MANY MODIFIED PROGRAMS. DURING 2021 20,000 MEALS WERE PREPARED BY OUR IN-HOUSE CHEF. FAMILIES HAD ACCESS TO DAILY SNACKS AND LUNCH TOTES WHICH THEY CARRIED WITH THEM TO THEIR DAILY HOSPITAL VISITS. AT THE END OF THEIR STAY, ALL FAMILIES WERE PROVIDED WITH A "FOOD TOTE" AS THEY RETURNED HOME TO REESTABLISH THEIR OWN HOME PANTRIES. OUR "FOOD TOTE" PROGRAM PROVIDED OVER 400 TOTES TO SUPPORT OUR FAMILIES. HEALTHY COOKING DEMONSTRATIONS WERE PROVIDED VIA ZOOM AND NUTRITIOUS, HOME-MADE SOUPS WERE OFTEN PREPARED FOR FAMILIES. OUR 4,000 VOLUNTEERS WHO ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF OUR MISSION CONTINUED AS VIRTUAL VOLUNTEERS FROM THE SAFETY AND SECURITY OF THEIR HOMES PARTICIPATING IN READING TO THE CHILDREN, CRAFT ACTIVITIES OR COOK-A-THONS. THEY CONTINUED WITH THEIR CORRESPONDENCES TO THE FAMILIES, FUNDRAISED FOR THE MISSION, AND CONTINUED TO BE OUR PARTNERS IN REIMAGINING OUR MISSION AND HELPING TO DELIVER OUR MISSION DURING A TIME OF CRISIS. OUR FACILITY DOG "REED," A GOLDEN RETRIEVER, PLAYED A KEY ROLE PROVIDING UNENDING LOVE AND COMPASSION AND REDUCED ANXIETY AND FEAR. NEW CHILDREN AND RETURNING CHILDREN AND FAMILIES ALL LOOK TO 'REED" AS THEIR NEW BEST FRIEND. "WOOF WEDNESDAY" IS ALWAYS AN EXTREMELY POPULAR PAGE ON OUR FACEBOOK SITE. UNDER NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES OUR FAMILY STAYS ARE FURTHER SUPPORTED WITH A FITNESS CENTER, THEATRE ROOM, ROOFTOP GARDEN, A NONDENOMINATIONAL ROOM OF CONTEMPLATION, COFFEE BAR AREAS, PLAYROOMS, LAUNDRY ROOMS AND ACCESS TO TECHNOLOGY FOUND IN THE COMMON DINING AREAS, PLAYROOM, AND THE KIDZONE LEARNING CENTER. THESE AMENITIES ARE ALL SUPPORTED WITH THOUGHTFUL PROGRAMMING THAT SUPPORT THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF OUR FAMILIES. OUR KIDZONE HAS BECOME A FAVORITE OF OUR CHILDREN AND PARENTS ALIKE. IT IS A JOYOUS PLACE OF LEARNING AND EXPLORATION CREATED, MANAGED, AND STAFFED BY OUR STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS, MANY WHO HAVE SPENT THEIR CAREERS IN EDUCATION. EXCITING THEMES AND CURRICULUMS WITH CRAFTS AND LEARNING GREET THE CHILDREN EVERY DAY, A DAILY LIVE FEED FROM THE SAN DIEGO ZOO DELIGHTS EVERYONE AND FOR HOURS AT A TIME CHILDREN CAN FORGET ABOUT THEIR ILLNESS AND ENJOY BEING A CHILD. GIANT LEGOS ABOUND AND CHILDREN'S ART IS MASTERFULLY DISPLAYED. TECHNOLOGY HAS BEEN BROUGHT INTO OUR KIDZONE THROUGH THE DEVELOPMENT OF PARTS OF A STEM CURRICULUM AND THE INTRODUCTION OF CODING THAT WAS TAUGHT TO STAFF BY THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH FLORIDA'S COLLEGE OF EDUCATION. DURING THIS UNMATCHED TIME OF COVID, OUR KIDZONE PROGRAMMING WAS PROVIDED INDIVIDUALLY TO THEIR DOORS AND/OR VIRTUALLY OVER ZOOM.OUR HEALTH AND WELLNESS PROGRAM SUPPORTS THE DAILY HEALTH OF OUR FAMILIES THROUGH NUTRITIOUS MEALS, COOKING DEMONSTRATIONS, PRIVATE DISCUSSIONS WITH VISITING DOCTORS, WELLNESS SEMINARS AND YOGA ON THE ROOFTOP. ALL THIS PROGRAMMING IS DESIGNED TO REDUCE THE STRESS OUR FAMILIES FACE. DURING 2021, MEALS WERE INDIVIDUALLY PACKAGED AND DELIVERED FOR SAFETY, AND COOKING DEMONSTRATIONS, WELLNESS CONVERSATIONS, AND PRIVATE DOCTOR VISITS WERE ALL PROVIDED VIRTUALLY.IMPORTANTLY, DURING NORMAL TIMES, OUR DEDICATED VOLUNTEERS MEET AND GREAT OUR FAMILIES WITH CARE AND COMPASSION. THEY CAN BE FOUND WORKING AT OUR FRONT DESKS, HOUSEWARMING IN OUR KITCHENS, VOLUNTEER COOKING, LANDSCAPING, DOING MAINTENANCE WORK, VOLUNTEERING FOR EVENTS, CRAFTS, GAMES, AND VOLUNTEERING DAILY IN OUR KIDZONE LEARNING CENTER. GROUPS OF VOLUNTEERS OFTEN CREATE EVENTS FOR OUR CHILDREN LIKE BIRTHDAY PARTIES AND CRAFT EVENTS, SUPERHERO, AND PRINCESS NIGHTS. THE MCDONALD'S OWNER/OPERATORS VISIT SEVERAL TIMES A YEAR TO COOK UP EVERYONE'S FAVORITE MCDONALD'S BISCUITS, EGG AND SAUSAGE SANDWICHES, AND HAPPY MEALS. IN 2021 VOLUNTEER WORK THAT WAS OUTSIDE OF THE HOUSE BEGAN TO TAKE PLACE AGAIN. PRINCESS/SUPERHERO NIGHTS, GAME NIGHTS (SUCH AS BINGO THE HOUSE FAVORITE), AND BIRTHDAY PARTIES WERE CELEBRATED VIRTUALLY. AND OUR MCDONALD'S PARTNERS CONTINUED TO SUPPORT OUR FAMILIES WITH FAN FAVORITES, WHICH WERE THEN PACKAGED AND DELIVERED INDIVIDUALLY.THE RONALD MCDONALD FAMILY ROOM AT WOLFSON CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL:THE RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE FAMILY ROOM AT WOLFSON CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL IS A CORE PROGRAM OF RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE CHARITIES OF JACKSONVILLE AND PROUDLY SUPPORTS THE JACKSONVILLE COMMUNITY. THE NEWLY RENOVATED WAITING ROOM IS LOCATED JUST OUTSIDE THE DOORS OF THE PEDIATRIC INTENSIVE CARE UNIT AND PROVIDES A PLACE OF RESPITE FOR FAMILIES VISITING THEIR CRITICALLY ILL CHILD. THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS INCREDIBLY SPECIAL FAMILY ROOM IS CONTINUOUSLY ACKNOWLEDGED BY FAMILIES WHO SPEND LONG HOURS IN THE HOSPITAL AWAITING SURGERY OUTCOMES OR TEST RESULTS. THE ROOM WAS RECENTLY UPDATED TO INCLUDE A RELAXING OUTDOOR TERRACE WITH ADDITIONAL SEATING AND A HEALING LABYRINTH. THIS FAMILY ROOM PROVIDES A KITCHENETTE, COFFEE STATION AND SNACKS, A FLAT SCREEN TV AND ACCESS TO IPAD TECHNOLOGY TO ALL VISITORS. GREETING OUR MORE THAN 22,000 VISITORS A YEAR ARE OUR DEDICATED VOLUNTEERS WHO SUPPORT THE VISITING FAMILIES ON THEIR JOURNEY WITH A WARM SMILE AND EMOTIONAL SUPPORT. HOWEVER, DURING 2021, WOLFSON CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL CONTINUED THEIR COVID GUIDELINES THAT INCLUDED NO VISITORS OR ONE PARENT PER CHILD AND CLOSED ALL COMMUNAL AREAS. RMHC JACKSONVILLE WAS REQUIRED TO TEMPORARILY CLOSE OUR FAMILY ROOM AT WOLFSON CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.