For almost 45 years, the Ronald McDonald House has been helping half a million families of sick children across Canada access health care and support, and now the organization is expanding its program to double this support, including a brand new room at Toronto’s SickKids.
The Ronald McDonald House is a well-known name in Canada, with an impactful 44 years of history that has helped thousands of families with sick children across the country. Last year alone, the charitable organization helped nearly 28,000 families access treatments, financial and mental health supports.
Now, it is aiming to push its impact even further, expanding its physical capacity, mental health and wellness programs, and access to essential supports to serve double the amount of families.
Ronald McDonald House Brand Engagement Director Stephanie Bateman tells Now Toronto that the ambitious goal comes in response to a growing demand for support and rising costs across the country, with thousands of families now on the waitlist for offered programs.
“It’s sad to know that today four in five families were unable to [get] support due to a lack of space or no program location available in their community. So, that really is the driving force behind us: needing to expand,” she said.
“When you just look at the economic environment we’re in today, we need to be there for more families, because you don’t expect to have a sick child, so no one is really prepared for that journey. So, we need to do everything we can.”
The organization already has 100 new bedrooms planned to be added in 2025 across its programs, having celebrated recent expansions in Calgary, Alta., Halifax, N.S., and Kamloops, B.C. Moreover, other expansions are expected to soon open in Ontarian cities like Toronto, Ottawa, as well as in Prince George, B.C.
As part of this expansion, Ronald McDonald House is also opening a second Family Room at the SickKids hospital in Toronto, which is set to be the largest of its kind in Canada.
“This has been our most significant year of growth since 1985, which is incredible to see. And then we will continue to work towards that doubling number with new programs across Saskatchewan and London, Ontario, and British Columbia. So, it’s very exciting to be able to be there and support more families,” Bateman said.
FAMILIES FACE PHYSICAL, EMOTIONAL, AND FINANCIAL BURDENS
Although Canada offers free health care services, Bateman points out that many across the country face difficulties accessing support due to added costs including travel, accommodation, and special treatments.
“We have the second largest geography mass in the world. And what that means is that when a child is critically ill or injured, two thirds of Canadians actually don’t live in a city center with a specialty pediatric hospital,” she said.
“What you don’t realize is, if you have a sick child and you have to travel for that specialty treatment, there are costs that come with that, right? You’re thinking, ‘Now gas, and now I have to find a place to stay, and how am I going to feed my family?’”
In addition to accessing help, many families also face other challenges, including accessing basic needs such as food, childcare, and clothing. Having to deal with challenges and with the toll of caring for a sick family member also often leads to a physical and mental health toll on caregivers, many of whom also face difficulties accessing wellness support.
A study by Ronald McDonald House with the University of Pennsylvania and the University of California San Francisco named Learning from Families recently revealed the significant challenges that families with sick children face.
As revealed in the study:
- Only one in four families had been sleeping and eating well before receiving support from a Ronald McDonald House program;
- 30 per cent of families who arrive at the program faced at least one unmet need within the last year, including access to food, clothing, or childcare;
- 70 per cent of caregivers have reported symptoms of anxiety, and over 50 per cent of depression.
It was also considering the results of the study that Ronald McDonald has decided to increase its support, including helping families access meal programming and psychosocial support.
“Food insecurity is obviously a big thing in our environment today. And so what we have been able to do is, actually, today, we’re offering more meals than we ever have in the history of our organization to families because we saw that as an unmet need,” Bateman said.
“We [also] offer programs now like music therapy and pet therapy for siblings, as well as support groups, so things like coffee chats, where moms and dads can talk to each other and really learn more about their experiences.”
RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE ACTIVELY FUNDRAISING
In order to support the organization’s expanded goals, Ronald McDonald House is actively fundraising across the country.
Based on the belief that families fight to stay united when a family member is sick, the organization has launched its Family Stays campaign, hoping to celebrate resilience and educate more Canadians about the issues faced by many of these families.
Those who wish to support the organization’s mission can make donations at the Ronald McDonald House website or purchase a cookie or Happy Meal at their local McDonalds location.
“This [campaign] was really rooted from the perspectives of our families. We heard from them, we heard what was important to them, and we want to be able to share that with more Canadians too, and grow that critical support.”
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