Dear Friends,

On any given day… at Ronald McDonald House Charities® a flurry of activity abounds.  Like any other six bedroom house, guests and visitors are coming and going all day long.  Through our partnership with The Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida, our guests and visitors can easily be with their precious newborns who came into this world a little sooner than planned or at the bedside of their child hospitalized due to illness or injury.  Whatever the reason that our paths cross, being part of this “home away from home” to moms and dads, grandparents and siblings during the most challenging times of their lives – is a gift.     

On any given day… dozens of folks will take time out of their day to drop off aluminum tabs that were collected in their communities, churches, social clubs, schools or businesses.  Interesting how collecting tabs is what so many people have in common and they don’t even know it!  Trunks full of cardboard tab houses, zip lock baggies, grocery bags, plastic containers and tubs arrive with regularity… all delivered personally, and with tremendous pride.  On any given day… compassionate volunteers will come by to clean the House, prepare a meal, answer the phones, conduct general household maintenance, or scan and clean the tens of thousands of those aluminum tabs!  They give freely of their time, ask nothing in return, and come back week after week, year after year.  Each one – a blessing.

On any given day… our Ronald McDonald Care Mobile®, in partnership with CHS Healthcare, will visit children in their own neighborhoods, providing dental treatment as well as screenings for growth and development, hearing and vision.

And, on any given day… RMHC Board Members will call or meet at the House for the purpose of planning or executing a fundraising event, or to help facilitate our Grants and Scholarship programs or to help with whatever is necessary to keep our favorite Charities running smoothly.

On any given day… I, and the other members of the RMHC staff, know how privileged we are to play a part in this incredible organization.  We also have the opportunity to witness - on a daily basis - this tremendous gift that all of you who support the Charities have given to our community. .. and we thank you.