Meals from the Heart - Ronald McDonald House Westmead
Meals from the Heart - Ronald McDonald House - Westmead Children's Hospital - Thursday July 23rd, 2023
We had a chance to go and help cook a meal for the families staying at Ronald McDonald House (RMH) in Westmead, next to the Children's Hospital.
I knew when I first read about this opportunity in Springword it was one I wanted to be involved with. More so because I wanted to find out about Ronald McDonald House. It is a separate business, not linked to McDonalds, even though they are major sponsors with large fund raising promotions like McHappy Day.
We were a small, keen group that gathered mid afternoon Thursday July 23rd, 2023 and were welcomed and inducted into the house with a brief history, before going to the kitchen. I learnt you can be a volunteer and stay overnight.
Linda and I got the royal tour, since we hadn't seen the place before/ recently. Nice touch in the lift seeing the dinner menu displayed along with our name and logo for all to see. These Meals From The Heart occur 3 times a week in the communal kitchen.
I noticed the large spaces and modern feel inside whilst walking around the brightly painted corridors. Many open areas with balconies looking into trees to help provide a peaceful place to sit. There was a mini hairdressing salon located at the end of one wing that opened up to allow views over green spaces. Genius idea to allow people to feel pampered and have a bit of “me time” with a volunteer professional hairdresser. It's all about making people feel as much at home as possible whilst they attend to sick or injured loved ones in the next door hospital.
There is no time limit to how long families can stay in RMH and some had been there for over 6 months, at no cost to them. They stay as long as they need to be supported for their children requiring treatment. It's not just treatment of cancer, or a disease, but could be injury or trauma related. In other words, they open their arms for any families and there is always a waiting list. Priorities are for those living further away and those close by requiring intensive treatment.

