Ronald McDonald House Charities of Arkansas

The Ronald Mcdonald House served 427 families in 2022, providing them with a "home-away-from-home" for 8,101 nights. The House also served families by providing hotel stays for 460 nights in 2022 when they were unable to stay due to covid-19. In a typical year, nearly 1,200 families are served, however hospital covid-19 safety restrictions and House virus protection protocols continued in 2021 which continued to limit the number of families served in 2022.when families face a child's illness their lives stop instantly, and parents enter a world of fear and worry. The Ronald Mcdonald House enables families to stay together, by their child's side and focus on their child's health.continued on schedule o.families with a child at Arkansas children's, and those with babies in the neonatal intensive care units (nicu) at baptist medical center and university of Arkansas for medical sciences (uams) are eligible to stay. Our 32-suite House provides each family with a private suite, meals, snacks, access to a full kitchen, laundry, indoor and outdoor play areas, activities, and programs for families (onsite hair salon staffed by volunteer stylists, a ladies and kids closet, relaxation classes and more) as well as the support of other families experiencing similar circumstances. All services are provided free of charge.

The Ronald Mcdonald family room at uams served 50 families in 2022, providing them with a "home-away-from-home" for 839 nights, and served 3,957 families during the day while their critically ill baby was receiving intensive medical care in the nicu. 8,063 meals were provided to nicu parents/caregivers. Families enjoyed a comfortable, welcoming place to rest and regroup in the hospital, steps away from their baby's room. Due to hospital safety protocols enacted because of covid-19 hospital regulations restricted access, including not allowing siblings. All services are provided free of charge.

The Ronald Mcdonald care mobile provides free dental care and oral health education to underserved children in central Arkansas. A total of 3,991 procedures were provided to 243 children in 2022. As a result of covid-19 and distancing protocols, the care mobile operated at a reduced capacity - treating one child at a time. Many of these children have never seen a dentist before and their parents do not have insurance to be able to provide much needed dental care to their children. This 40-foot, state-of-the-art, fully equipped mobile dental clinic, travels to select elementary schools and summer programs in pulaski, saline, perry, faulkner, lonoke and grant counties. All services are provided free of charge.