Ronald McDonald House Charities fundraiser for family room kicks off Monday
IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) - For the next few days, you can help keep the Ronald McDonald Family Room running at the Eastern Idaho Medical Center.
Since its opening four years ago, the room has served more than 5,700 families who have found comfort support, and much-needed help to continue to be there for their children staying in the hospital. Including over 800 families last year.
One of those families is the Richardson Family. Thomas Lee Richardson came to the room after his daughter suffered second-degree burns. He says for him the room came at a great time.
"This place was super helpful. I can't even express, how helpful it was." He added, "when I heard of this place, it was like a lifesaver."
The room is located at 3200 Channing Way, Ste 106, in Idaho Falls, and it is there to help create a family home environment to give parents and families of children who come to EIRMC, a place to feel comfort and rest after spending all day with their children, while still being within feet of their child's room. The room is completely free for these families to drop by and use.
For Richardson, the room can help him take his mind off an, understandably, emotionally high situation.
"Trying to comfort my wife because she's emotionally distraught and it took a lot of me to be, the strong one when I, want to cry," Richardson said.
The room provides a space for families like the Richardsons to have a home away from home. A place where they can come in, cook a meal in the kitchen, sit on the couch, and watch TV, and if they need a place to sleep the room provides beds and private rooms.
"We are just steps from our ERMIC'S NICU, and a minute from the pediatrics and PICU department so families can come and enjoy just a time for themselves," said Lori Priest, the Community Engagement Director for Ronald McDonald House Charities.
Priest added the room can be a solace from the loud beeps and trills of the monitors in a hospital room. She says the people behind the room understand how hard it can be, as a parent in a hospital for your child.
"It is hard to have a sick child and knowing that there's a place that could come down to and just be enjoy the quiet or a warm meal is wonderful to be able to provide to them," she said.
The fundraiser hopes to raise $75K and already is seeing a great response from the community.
"Our community is amazing. They give so much and they support our organization almost on a daily basis with in-kind donations, funding, and volunteering. It's a great place to live," Priest said.
The fundraiser is there to help keep the room open and available for families in need of it. If you would like to offer some support to the families who use the room and keep the room open, you can do so here.
