Page 30 - Giving Guide_FINAL

30 A TIME FOR GIVING

While Ronald McDonald

House Charities for Idaho is at half capacity, keeping empty $10 donation, but families are not
rooms between each family to aid
required to pay that.
part of a global institution, in social distancing. But, no one is monetarily to Ronald McDonald
For those who donate
being turned away.
If extended family is staying —
all money donated to Idaho’s such as older children and aunts/ House, “It’s kind of a way to
extend a hug, support,” Plumlee
nonprofit stays in the uncles or grandparents — even said. “People are generous a lot
of the year; during the holiday
if they can’t go to the hospital
community. or other medical facilities, many season, there tends to be an
are able to stay in a hotel room,
outpouring.”
covered by Ronald McDonald While Ronald McDonald House
House Charities for Idaho. Charities for Idaho is part of a
“We’re still able to meet the global institution, all money
Ronald McDonald House current visiting restrictions at the demand for families that need donated to Idaho’s nonprofit stays
Charities for Idaho is a place where hospitals; maybe grandparents to stay with us,” Plumlee said. in the community.
families can stay when they have could visit but now they can’t, “We’ve been able to move past Ronald McDonald House hopes
a sick child in the hospital — for Plumlee said; now it’s one parent that hurdle; now the challenge is to make a special holiday season
some it’s a night, for others it’s visiting at a time. Obviously different.” for all the families staying, and
days to months, at a time — and, hospitals need that and are doing it is asking the community to
for a lot of special needs children, the best they can to handle the How ‘the house’ helps help by purchasing or crafting
“it’s going to be throughout pandemic, Plumlee said. Plumlee anticipates Ronald table-top or other little Christmas
their life,” said Mindy Plumlee, This February, Ronald McDonald McDonald House will support trees, decorated at home with
executive director. The house, as House Charities for Idaho moved about 100 families over the next the family. The intent is for every
it’s commonly called, is very close into its new location, now with a couple of months, as the holidays, family that stays at the house,
to local hospitals, particularly St. capacity of 47 rooms, up 30 rooms and the year, draw to a close. between now and the end of year,
Luke’s Children’s Hospital. from its previous capacity. Now, the nonprofit is holding its to have a tree and take it home.
“We take care of the family “It was kind of a good timing in annual year-end giving campaign, The house also hopes to have
while the hospital is taking care of a way,” Plumlee said. “Otherwise like many other nonprofits in the little gift bags or baskets for
the child,” Plumlee said. “We still we would have had trouble area. families staying. Gift baskets can
have the same families that come meeting demand.” “We don’t charge families who contain everything from baby
and stay with us; COVID hasn’t On average, the house stay,” Plumlee said. “We’re able to things — like teething toys and
changed any of that; it’s made it accommodates 21–25 families do that because of the support rattles — to toys for older children,
more challenging for families.” each day, staying an average of 10 from the community.” like Barbies and Legos.
Part of that is due to the nights. The house is approximately For those interested in
The house asks for a nightly

Your donation
helps keep families
together and close to
the medical care their
children need.

TO DONATE GO TO: rmhcidaho.org