Ronald McDonald shares a smile and some fun with children at a Ronald McDonald House, which provides “home away from home” for families facing a child’s medical challenges. PHOTO COURTESY OF RONALD McDONALD HOUSE The hardships of family life — whether great or small — are usually ironed out at the end of the day at home, a place of support and comfort.
For families with a child going through a medical challenge, many difficulties cannot readily be resolved. Finding the best treatment for one’s child, regardless of location, is of utmost importance.
If the best medical facility for a specific illness is located far from home, a family must make arrangements for accommodations near that facility. Such arrangements can be costly, and that is where Ronald McDonald House steps in to help.
Providing a “home away from home” for families with seriously ill children while they receive care at a nearby medical facility, Ronald McDonald House has two locations in central New Jersey: one in Long Branch and one in New Brunswick.
Ronald McDonald House, New Brunswick “Families come with a wide variety of problems — preemies, childhood cancers, muscular issues that require ongoing rehabilitation,” said Lynne Siedentop, operations director for the Long Branch and New Brunswick Ronald McDonald Houses.
The Long Branch house, founded in 1987, features eight themed bedrooms with private baths and phones with voicemail; a full kitchen with two of each appliance, a well-stocked pantry and a food storage area for each family; laundry facilities with supplies; hygiene items, linens and towels; a living room; a library with new computers; a spacious playroom; an enclosed yard with a playground area; a gazebo with a garden and a covered wrap-around porch; and parking. It is located one block from the Monmouth Medical Center.
Ronald McDonald House, Long Branch The New Brunswick house, founded in 2005, includes six themed bedrooms and all the same amenities as the Long Branch location. It is located near several New Brunswick children’s medical facilities: The Bristol-Myers Squibb Children’s Hospital, Children’s Specialized Hospital and The Children’s Hospital at Saint Peter’s University Hospital.
“The Long Branch location varies between 55 to 75 percent full, and the New Brunswick location is always full and has to turn away families,” Siedentop said.
Each house has a small staff with a housekeeper and maintenance person. In addition, an operations manager, business manager, executive director and marketing manager are employed by Ronald McDonald House.
Although there is a suggested nominal fee for the accommodation, it is waived for most families, according to Siedentop. No time limit is set for how long families can stay at a Ronald McDonald House, but a reevaluation is done after 30 days, Siedentop said. The current operating budget for the Long Branch and New Brunswick locations is $1.2 million, according to Siedentop. Ninety percent of that money comes from fundraisers and direct donations, and the other 10 percent comes from McDonald’s owners and operators, she said.
“The ongoing annual budget is a challenge. With the economy going down and other natural disasters, money goes elsewhere,” Siedentop said.
Support is from the community, she said.
Founded in 1974, Ronald McDonald House has 325 houses worldwide.
Upcoming fundraisers for the organization include the 10th anniversary gala Oct. 24 at the Pines Manor, Edison.
For more information, visit www.rmh-cnj.org.
Ronald McDonald House locations:
Long Branch House
131 Bath Ave.
Long Branch, NJ 07740
732-222-8755
New Brunswick House
145 Somerset St.
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
732-249-1222
To become a volunteer, call Katy Matarese in Long Branch at 732-222-8755 or Nychey Michel in New Brunswick at 732-249-1222. To make a donation, visit www.rmh-cnj.org