Ronald McDonald Family Room
Two Ronald McDonald Family Rooms serve Orange County
At this time, there are two Ronald McDonald Family Rooms in Orange County. Manned almost entirely by volunteers, the first opened in 1999 at CHOC Children's at Mission Hospital in Mission Viejo. The newest Ronald McDonald Family Room came online in November 2007, inside of CHOC Children's in the city of Orange.
Ronald McDonald Family Rooms extend the services of the Orange County Ronald McDonald House (OCRMH), by serving as an oasis of calm inside the hospital. Here, parents with children in pediatric intensive care and cardiovascular intensive care units can relax a bit, eat and shower. The facilities feature a living room with plasma TV, games for children, a kitchenette, quiet reflection area, and a family resource library with computers so families can use e-mail and do research. Additionally, the facilities at CHOC Children's at Mission Hospital feature two rooms in which parents can nap and sleep while remaining just steps away from their child.
The Ronald McDonald Family Room helps alleviate stress by providing families with an escape inside of the hospital. Additionally, parents find relief and camaraderie by talking with and just being surrounded by others in similar circumstances, yet have the comfort of being down the hall from their hospitalized child. When families first walk into one of our two Ronald McDonald Family Rooms, they frequently forget they are still in a hospital. They see children playing or eating treats baked by volunteers, while parents look on and chat with each other.
"Our experience shows that parents with a seriously ill child who do not take care of themselves get worn down by stress and lack of rest," says Deborah Levy, Executive Director, OCRMH. "With the Ronald McDonald Family Room, families can find comfort and support just steps away from their children's hospital room."
Ronald McDonald Family Room inside CHOC Children's
Located on the 6th floor of CHOC Children's
455 S. Main St.
Orange, CA 92868-3874
Contact: Mary Pat Dooley at: mpdooley@ronaldhouseoc.org
Ronald McDonald Family Room inside CHOC at Mission
Located on the 5th floor of Mission Hospital
27700 Medical Center Road
Mission Viejo, California 92691-6426
Contact: Joni Allen-Ooms at: jallenooms@ronaldhouseoc.org
Please note: In order to become a Ronald McDonald Family Room Volunteer, you must first call the Ronald McDonald Family Room Manager (Mary Pat Dooley if you want to volunteer in Orange, and Joni Allen-Ooms if you want to volunteer in Mission Viejo) and then apply through CHOC's online application. CHOC accepts applications the first Wednesday of the month ONLY. Click here to be directed to the online application.
