By Rick Shepherd, Communications Manager We’re happy to introduce one our two new marketing & communications interns brought to us through the Healthy Homes program
This past weekend Ronald McDonald House Charities was the beneficiary of the annual AEP Ohio Columbus 10K Presented by Orangetheory Fitness, again. In this video, family members who’ve stayed at the Ronald McDonald House, share what they’ve been going through with their children being hospitalized and share their gratitude (along with RMHC staff) to the Columbus10k community of supporters.
As we wrap up the Mental Health Awareness Month of May, we spotlight John Kennedy, a board member here at Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Ohio. John recently sat down with us to talk about his family’s experience with addiction and mental illness
He was a young Star Wars fan who was given a Star Wars puzzle by a House manager seven years ago. Now a teenager, he returned with his mom to stay at the House for hospital appointments and happened to be staying at the House during a special observance of Star Wars Day. He and his mom show their gratitude, which only grew from the day he got that puzzle.
May is Mental Health Month and this week is Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week. RMHC of Central Ohio brought the first Ronald McDonald Family Room to the country’s first pediatric behavioral health hospital. One of our board members recently created a fund to support behavioral health initiatives supported by RMHC of Central Ohio. We spoke with another board member who experienced the RMFR at the Nationwide Children’s Hospital Big Lots Behavioral Health Pavilion about why such a space is so necessary.
Betsy brought her son to Nationwide Children’s Hospital after his mental health concerns couldn’t be addressed by healthcare professionals in her local area. She found the help her son needed at NCH, and found our Ronald McDonald Family Room a perfect place to take a break while her son was getting the care he needed. She was also relieved to find out that she could stay at the Ronald McDonald House knowing her son’s inpatient care would take weeks.
Started and headquartered here in Columbus, Installed Business Products employees work with builders across the country to install products that make a house a home.
During the month of April, we’re spotlighting some of the hundreds of volunteers who help make our House a home. April is National Volunteer Appreciation
In this volunteer spotlight, former NICU nurse turned Ronald McDonald Family Room volunteer Debby talks about how she decided to volunteer at the room, what it’s like volunteering in the room, and explains that you don’t need to be a former medical professional to volunteer with RMHC. Just being a good listener is enough.
Volunteers often bring family members to volunteer with them at the Ronald McDonald House in Columbus. For young people, it’s a great way to learn what volunteering means and gives them an opportunity to see the people directly impacted by the time they give to a charity.
