The Ronald McDonald House of Danville provides a “home-away-from-home” for families of children who are hospitalized or receiving outpatient care at area hospitals. Since 1981, the House has been a place of comfort and security, offering families the opportunity to relax and stay together as a family unit.
The Ronald McDonald House of Danville is called the “House that Love Built” because it was the seed of an idea inspired by the reality of parents spending endless hours sitting at the bedside with children stricken with cancer. The goal was to provide a second home that offers familiar and comforting amenities.
The House would reduce the financial and emotional strain on families and in turn, allow them to focus more clearly on the medical needs of their children.
Often overlooked in medical crises is the welfare of the patient’s advocates. These individuals are commonly unsung heroes, although their sacrifices are many. A patient’s advocates are critical to a child’s response or recovery. Recognizing this, the Ronald McDonald House of Danville fills the void by tending to the basic needs of families and giving them a peace of mind they would not have otherwise.
Experienced volunteer staff and medical professionals are dedicated to making Camp Dost an experience that campers carry with them for a lifetime. Thanks to the support of generous donors and committed volunteers, Camp Dost is offered to families at no charge. Each patient camper is also entitled to invite a sibling to attend.
The House’s heart extends past our front doors and into the lives of children living with cancer. The House founded and continues to sponsor the first summer camp for children with cancer. Camp Dost offers a place for these special children to experience familiar childhood pleasures in an environment that builds confidence and promotes acceptance. Camp activities range from swimming and fishing to arts and crafts.
In 2017 the Ronald McDonald House of Danville opened the Ronald McDonald Family Room just steps away from the Janet Weis Children’s Hospital. The Family Room is a comforting haven within arm’s reach for families with children faced with urgent medical needs.
The Family Room extends the support of the Ronald McDonald House of Danville into the hospital by offering a quiet, comfortable respite place for families to rest and regroup during their child’s treatment. The Family Room offers a kitchenette, two sleeping rooms, full bathroom with shower facilities, living area and a quiet room.
Thanks to the Ronald McDonald House of Danville, families no longer need to sleep in hospital waiting rooms or lobbies, nor do they have the financial burden of paying for hotels or restaurant meals. With these worries aside, they can concentrate on the medical care of their child.