Ronald McDonald House Charities of Kansas City (RMHC-KC) has two Houses as well as a Family Room program to assist families who have a critically ill or injured child.

The Houses, known as the Cherry Street House and the Longfellow House are designed to provide "a home away from home" (meals, lodging, laundry facilities, etc.) for families who do not live within the Kansas City metropolitan area.

The Family Room, located inside the hospital, is designed to be a comfortable space for families to get away from the hospital environment.

Ronald McDonald House

It's hard enough for a family to cope when a child is seriously ill or injured. When parents and children must travel far from home, the disruption of family life only adds to the stress.

Ronald McDonald House Charities of Kansas City helps alleviate some of the stress by providing a temporary home for families who have children receiving inpatient or outpatient treatment for critical illness or injury. Two Houses are located within walking distance of Children's Mercy Hospital. Each House provides indoor and outdoor spaces for families to relax and socialize while remaining close to their child's bedside.

Families receive their own guestroom, which can sleep up to six people, with attached private bath. Amenities include 24 hour access to a fully stocked kitchen and pantry, laundry rooms, hygiene products, a medical room as well as supportive services by caring staff and volunteers. At the Ronald McDonald House, families can be together and keep the routines of normal life, away from hospital lobbies and hotel rooms.

Families who have never stayed at Ronald McDonald House Charities of Kansas City must be referred by a Social Worker. For more information, contact (816) 234-3670.

Ronald McDonald House Family Room

When a family is spending long, stressful hours at the hospital with a seriously-ill or injured child, parents can find much-needed respite and support inside the hospital in Ronald McDonald House Charities Family Room.

Located on the second floor of the West Tower at Children's Mercy Hospital, the Family Room offers a home-like environment where parents can relax and take care of personal matters such as showering, laundry and meals without going all the way home. The space also has seven sleeping rooms designed to provide overnight accommodations for parents of PICU, ICN, burn and bone-marrow transplant patients.

Even better, the accommodations are available free of charge to parents of all children who are inpatients at Children's Mercy Hospital.

For more information, call (816) 234-3670.