Ronald McDonald House welcomes federally employed women

Posted March 12, 2010
By Brittany Brown, Norfolk District Public Affairs

03/12/2010 - NORFOLK, Va. — Thanks to volunteers from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Norfolk District, the evening meal was one thing families did not have to worry about March 11 after traveling hundreds of miles for their children to receive treatment in Hampton Roads hospitals and medical facilities.

The aroma of a home-cooked meal greeted guests as they entered the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Norfolk (RMHC-Norfolk) after spending a long day at the Children's Hospital of the King's Daughters. Members of the Fort Norfolk Chapter of Federally Employed Women (FEW) prepared a Mexican-themed dinner as a part of RMHC-Norfolk's Comfort Food Program (CFP), which welcomes groups willing to share their cooking talents.

Karin Dridge, a Norfolk District geographer, created the dinner menu, which included tacos and quesadillas. It marked the third time Dridge organized a dinner on behalf of the group.

"It means a lot that we have been able to help out at the Ronald McDonald House. I am fortunate to not have experienced what these families are going through, but I am happy to know our group has been able to save them stress, time and money after a long day of doctor appointments," Dridge said.

RMHC-Norfolk, an affiliate of Ronald McDonald House Charities, Inc., was established as a "home away from home" for families who want to be near their child receiving medical treatment. The goal of RMHC-Norfolk is to provide comfortable, low-cost housing to families needing to be near their hospitalized child.

The House, which opened its doors Dec. 10, 1981, features a kitchen, dining room, living room, playroom, laundry facilities and 17 guest rooms to accommodate up to 55 guests.

"In 2009, we served a record number of 1,017 families," said Elyse Brown, director of Ronald McDonald Charities of Norfolk. "About seventy percent of the families stay an average of one- to three-days," Elyse added.

While offering comfortable, private rooms where families can rest and knowing their child is close, RMHC-Norfolk also gives families the chance to connect with others going through similar experiences.

House Manager Vickie Kennedy shared some of those experiences with FEW as she gave members a tour of the House. In Kennedy's two years with RMHC-Norfolk, she has met families from across the globe, including a family who traveled more than 30 hours from India.

Members of the Fort Norfolk Chapter of Federally Employed Women plan to continue adding to the facility’s home-like atmosphere. The group will be hosting a charity drive for RMHC-Norfolk to collect wish list items for the House. The Norfolk House, one of 300 in the United States, relies heavily on donations and contributions.