SEPTEMBER 2017
FROM OUR HOUSE TO YOURS RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE CHARITIES OF THE RED RIVER VALLEY NEWSLETTER
FAMILY STORY: GREATWALKER FAMILY
“The kitchen is just a special place...to me, the kitchen is the warmest place in the whole house.” - Shelley Greatwalker The Ronald McDonald House strives
connection. In a recent 2013 study,
through a lot right now, but we want to
to be a warm place for togetherness
findings revealed that Ronald McDonald
care for people staying here and the
to happen and not just because of the
Houses help strengthen coping abilities.
kitchen is where we can do that because
warm, gooey chocolate chip cookies
Specifically, after interviewing caregivers
it’s a community space. We’ve met a lot
volunteers frequently bake in the kitchen.
staying at a Ronald McDonald House,
of very nice people down in the kitchen.”
researchers found that familial support RMHC supports families whose children
and support from other families during
are receiving medical care in the Fargo-
their child’s hospitalization strengthened
Moorhead area by offering home-like
their coping abilities. The study also
comfort, support and care for families.
demonstrated that staying at a Ronald
We do this by providing a comfortable
McDonald House surrounds parents with
bed, a hot shower, transportation to and
an atmosphere of mutual support that
from medical facilities, home-cooked
encourages sharing between families who
meals and a secure place to sleep. There
are going through the same experience.
is a suggested $15 nightly guest donation
Greatwalker Family
although no one is turned away due to an
The reality of that study is readily
inability to pay.
apparent and felt by many families who
Ultimately, RMHC functions to help
stay with us. Shelley Greatwalker stayed
families stay together so they can focus
What is unique about the Ronald
at RMHC to help and be close to her
on what matters most: their sick child.
McDonald House is that it’s much more
daughter, Kaytlyn, who was experiencing
As the Greatwalker family said, “We’re
than just an affordable, convenient
a high-risk pregnancy. The Greatwalkers
all hurting in one way or another, but
place to stay; the most meaningful
say, “We want to have that empathy
we’re also all here for the same reason –
benefit RMHC offers is community and
feeling for others. Yes, we’re going
comfort and healing.”