Ronald McDonald House of Dallas Calls Out for Volunteers & Support: The House needs help to meet demand in serving families and surging utility charges. In Homeschool we can volunteer as part of our School Work and I can’t wait to let Charlie and David know the Ronald McDonald House of Dallas needs volunteers. As I want to see if they would want to volunteer one day a week. Would you like to volunteer with us?
DALLAS (August 1, 2022) – Ronald McDonald House of Dallas (RMHD) is as busy as it has ever been, serving as a home-away-from-home for families who are seeking medical treatment for their sick children. However, the pandemic has chased away nearly 50% of their volunteers and seen utility costs rise by 39% between April and June with costs expected to be even higher in July and August. RMHD is putting a call out for volunteers to join the mission and play a crucial role in making life easier for the families they serve. For those who want to support the House but can’t be there in person, RMHD is asking for support in helping to defray the electricity and water costs that have surged in recent months.
2022 has seen RMHD surpass pre-Covid numbers in families staying at the House due to RMHD’s expansion of 30 rooms in early 2020. Unfortunately, the volunteer base has struggled to bounce back to what it was before the pandemic. RMHD needs over 17,000 volunteers each year and at least 49 volunteers a day to support the House at full capacity. “We had to suspend our volunteer program due to Covid during 2020 and half of 2021. We have been cautiously rebuilding this program since July 2021 but it hasn’t been easy,” said Jill Cumnock, CEO of RMHD. “However, now, we really need the help and without a sufficient number of volunteers, it puts a lot of additional strain on the staff. We ask anyone interested in giving their time and supporting our mission to get in touch as soon as possible.”
Long-time volunteer Sally McWilliams added: “I have volunteered at the House for over 25-30 years and I have never seen the need for volunteers so acute as it is right now. There are many ways to get involved and it is such a rewarding experience: whether working at the front desk, cooking meals for our families, or doing tours of the House. The staff really needs our help so please consider joining us in this important work!”
To protect the medically fragile children being served by the House, RMHD requires that volunteers wear masks and be fully vaccinated against Covid-19. Training and background checks are also necessary to administer this crucial program. Interested volunteers can learn more by visiting the Volunteer page on the RMHD website or contacting Caitlyn Carter at ccarter@rmhdallas.org. For those who are unable to volunteer but who want to donate to help defray rising electricity utility costs, please visit the Donate Today page or contact Diane Fullingim at dfullingim@rmhdallas.org.
ABOUT RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE OF DALLAS
Established in 1981, Ronald McDonald House of Dallas has served as a home-away-from-home for more than 40,000 families of seriously ill children who have traveled to Dallas seeking medical treatment in area hospitals. By providing a caring, supportive, home-like environment, Ronald McDonald House of Dallas keeps the family intact and helps allow a family to establish a normal routine in the midst of crisis. It also provides families with the opportunity to share their concerns with other families in similar circumstances. For more information, please contact Ronald McDonald House of Dallas at 214.631.7354, or visit
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
