Make Meals from the Heart at Ronald McDonald House - East (age 13+) *Hands On*

OUR ORGANIZATION'S MISSON 

Ronald McDonald House Charities of Oregon & SW Washington provides access to medical care, a home away from home, and a community of support for seriously ill or injured children and their families. We are proud to say that we provide this housing, access to medical care, and compassionate hospitality at no cost to the families serve making it possible for them to focus on what matters most – each other. The families that stay at Ronald McDonald House are often far away from family, friends and other support systems that would normally help them through a difficult time.  

Families often return to the House after a long day at the hospital or traveling and cooking a meal for themselves may be low on their long list of priorities. The chance for these families to sit down to a home-cooked meal is another way that makes the Ronald McDonald House truly a “home away from home” for families whose children are critically ill. To feed our families, we rely on the dedication of hundreds of community members across the state who donate, volunteer, and advocate to ensure that no family goes hungry while in our Houses.  

FOR THIS PROJECT 
The group will prepare dinner on-site for the families at Ronald McDonald House. Volunteers will be asked to bring ingredients to contribute to the meal.  The volunteer leader will contact each volunteer to instruct you on what ingredients to bring.  
 
We're counting on you!  It is imperative that if you sign up for this project, you intend to be there and provide the ingredients that are assigned to you. When volunteers don't show up, we're not able to make the meal. If you are unable to attend, please let your Volunteer Leader know ASAP! 
 
Please note:  No volunteer will be turned away due to lack of resources. If bringing a food item is a hardship for you, please alert the Volunteer Leader. 

VOLUNTEERING WITH US 

Volunteers will work together in the kitchen, guided by the Volunteer Leader, to prepare dinner for around 25 of our guests. All ingredients must be prepped on site or brought from a commercial kitchen such as a store, bakery, or local restaurant. The meal will be set out buffet style from 6 – 7pm. Even though dinner is set out buffet style for families to serve themselves, we ask that volunteers package up all the remaining food around 6:45pm in our to-go leftover containers and place them in our leftover fridge. 
 
Volunteers are expected to clean up all the dishes and space that they used to prepare the meal. We also encourage volunteers to eat the prepared meal as well after families serve themselves.  
 
When You Arrive: 
Our East House is located on Legacy Emmanuel’s campus. Please help us leave the lot closest to the House open for our guests and families. If you need to unload anything, please pull into the closest lot to unload, and then move your vehicle afterwards. You will receive parking instructions prior to your shift.  

General Guidelines: 

• You will be unable to volunteer if you’ve had any symptoms of contagious illness within the past 48 hours.

• As of 4/5/23, all RMHC spaces are mask-optional.

• Volunteers must also complete a wellness check when signing in for their shift.  

• Volunteers will be asked to make a volunteer profile on our Volunteer Hub database. The Volunteer Leader will send you these instructions prior to your meal shift.  

• Please do not wear cologne or perfume in the house. 

• Please do not take pictures of families staying at the house. You may take pictures of the house, your group, and any staff/volunteers who agree to be photographed. 

• To assure the protection of the confidentiality and privacy of families, volunteers will hold in strict confidence all information acquired through service at the house, including but not limited to: names, addresses, diagnoses, and personal circumstances. 

• Volunteers may not, under any circumstances, take responsibility for supervising or caring for children in the absence of a parent or guardian.  

   

Project Requirements:

You will be unable to volunteer if you’ve had any symptoms of contagious illness within the past 48 hours or have been exposed or diagnosed with COVID-19 in the past 5 days. ​

• All volunteers will be asked to make a volunteer profile ahead of time through Ronald McDonald House Charities and fill out a wellness check-in upon arrival.  

• Please show up on time and bring the assigned ingredients with you. We are relying on you in order to be able to feed our guest families. 

• Volunteers must be 13 years of age or older to attend this project; any volunteer under age 16 must attend with a parent or adult chaperone.

• All volunteers under 18 are required to bring a Youth Volunteer Release Form signed by their parent or legal guardian. Please download, complete, and bring this waiver with you on the day of the project.

• If you plan to bring children or guests you MUST reserve slots for them. The best way to do this is to create a Volunteer Team, then sign up your team for this project.
  
  IMPORTANT NOTE: You are responsible for ensuring that everyone signed up through your team attends - only sign up team members who have confirmed their availability. Teams that repeatedly sign up, but do not show up or show up with fewer volunteers than they signed up, may be removed. To add or remove team members from a project, click on "My Account" and then "My Teams," above.

Click "Sign Up" below to reserve your spot!
Need help signing up? Call 503-200-3355.