Ronald McDonald House

Many families travel far from home to get treatment for their seriously ill or injured children. Often, it can be a long time to be away from home, or to divide a family. And, for children facing a serious medical crisis, nothing seems scarier than not having their mom and dad close by for love and support.

Our Ronald McDonald House program provides a “home-away-from-home” for families so they can stay close by their hospitalized child at little or no cost.  Our Houses are built on the simple idea that nothing else should matter when a family is focused on healing their child – not where they can afford to stay, where they will get their next meal or where they will lay their head at night to rest. We believe that when a child is hospitalized the love and support of family is as powerful as the strongest medicine prescribed.

Allow Families to Face the Weight of Illness Together

Families are stronger when they are together, which helps in the healing process. By staying at a Ronald McDonald House, parents also can better communicate with their child’s medical team and keep up with complicated treatment plans when needed. They can also focus on the health of their child, rather than grocery shopping, cleaning or cooking meals.

Allow Children to Get the Best Care

When your child is sick, you want the best care possible – even if it is hundreds or thousands of miles away.  The Ronald McDonald House allows families to access specialized medical treatment by providing a place to stay at little or sometimes no cost.

The first Ronald McDonald House opened in Philadelphia in 1974. There are now more than 300 Ronald McDonald Houses open in 30 countries and regions worldwide.

At every House, families can enjoy:

Services for Families
Home-cooked meals
Private bedrooms
Playrooms for children

Depending on the House, these services may also be available:
Special suites for children with suppressed immune systems
Accredited education programs
Recreational activities
Non-clinical support services
Sibling support services

The generosity of volunteers and donors make it all possible. In return, families either stay at no cost or are asked to make a donation up to $25 per day, depending on the house. The RMHC Global Policy is that families are never turned away; if it’s not possible to pay, the fee is waived.

RMHC of the Philadelphia Region supports four local Houses:

Philadelphia Ronald McDonald House on Chestnut Street

The Philadelphia Ronald McDonald House at Chestnut Street is located in the heart of University City, Philadelphia, and is the original House that started the RMHC dream more than 35 years ago. The House is conveniently located near several pediatric hospitals, including The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Occupants are housed in a historic building that was expanded in 1995 to serve 45 families nightly.

Philadelphia Ronald McDonald House on Front & Erie

The Philadelphia Ronald McDonald House at Front & Erie opened in 2008 and provides a comfortable, home-like environment for 18 families nightly. The Front & Erie House is conveniently located next to St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children.

The Ronald McDonald House of Delaware

The Ronald McDonald House of Delaware opened in 1991 and is located across from Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children. The House started with 17 guest rooms and expanded to become a 50 guest room House, with a series of expansions in 1995 and 2005.

The Ronald McDonald House of Southern New Jersey

The Ronald McDonald House of Southern New Jersey opened on 6th Street in Camden in 1983. The House has 20 spacious family suites, each with a unique theme such as butterflies, a fire house, Sesame Street, Sponge Bob and NASCAR.