Dade Residents Thankful for Ronald McDonald House as McDonald’s Continues Round-Up Campaign

By LYDIA BERGLAR
News Editor

Like a number of other stores and fast-food chains, McDonald’s asks customers if they would like to round their purchase up to the nearest dollar to support a charity. In this case, these donations go to Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC), and donations made through the Trenton McDonald’s help support the nearest Ronald McDoanld House (RMH)–the Chattanooga location.

RMHs offer families who have relatives (especially children) staying at a hospital a free place to stay. Usually located very close to hospitals, they offer rooms, meals, laundry services, and a restful environment at no cost to the families. Over 380 RMHs, 265 Ronald McDonald Family Rooms in hospitals, and 40 Ronald McDonald Care Mobile programs (which bring medical, dental, and health care resources to communities) are located around the world.

Spare change collection boxes are still inside the fast food restaurants, but in 2019, McDonald’s added the digital round up method due to an increasingly digital society.

Contrary to a popular rumor, companies cannot receive a tax break for customers’ donations because the donations are not made by the corporation–they’re made by the customers.

The Chattanooga RMH team explained, “McDonald’s is essentially a pass-through for donations. Unless McDonald’s corporate or an individual owner/operator donates their personal money, no tax break is involved. RMHC is a separate organization and its own legal entity that is supported by McDonald’s. Yes, we have their name, and they are great partners! But when it comes to the financials of round-up, McDonald’s does not get any of that money whatsoever. All of it comes to RMHC in some fashion, and most of it stays local.”

The team further explained, “All of the money goes to RMHC, but there is an 80/20 split between a local chapter and RMHC Global. The 20 percent RMHC Global gets goes towards administrative support and operation of the round-up program.”

As for the effectiveness and quality of RMHC, the charity as a whole has a 100 percent score and four (out of four) star rating on Charity Navigator. This rating is based on the charity’s transparency about board of directors, finances, taxes, accountability, policies, etc.

Perhaps more compellingly, the Sentinel asked four Dade County residents about their experiences using RMHs, and all four were eager to speak about how RMHs had helped them during stressful and emotionally trying times.

Debbie O’Dell reported that about 11 years ago, a grandchild was often admitted to Erlanger for two weeks at a time due to cystic fibrosis. While O’Dell was staying at the hospital with her grandchild, a nurse told her about the Chattanooga RMH.

O’Dell said, “I got to do my laundry, and they fed me while I was there. It was really nice. I felt comfortable, they asked if I needed anything, and asked who I was staying with at the hospital. It was a place I could go and breathe, cry if I wanted to cry, and talk to someone there and they would listen.”

Monda Wooten explained that her daughter was born prematurely and had to stay in an Atlanta hospital for over a month. Wooten raved about RMHs. She said, “The RMH was so supportive by offering a place to stay and bathe with full meals. It was one of the most stressful times of my life, and they were there when I needed it most. For years now, I have donated and always drop my change at the window. In fact, for years I have purchased the senior drink and dropped the change, saying it was my way of playing Robin Hood.”

Wooten said that a volunteer at the Atlanta RMH told her family about the service. “She had once stayed there and was so impressed that she started volunteering. The house kept up with people whose children might have long stays at the hospital so that they could offer their services because they knew how important it was for family to be as close as possible.”

In addition to dropping change or rounding up, anyone can give to RMHC online at www.rmhc.org/donate. When giving online, people can designate their gift to a specific RMH or give to RMHC as a whole.

When asked if the Chattanooga RMH needs volunteers or non-financial support, the team said, “Absolutely. We always need adopt-a-meal volunteers, as well as volunteers for the House, Family Room, and events.”

Emma Barton, a current employee at the Trenton McDonald’s, stayed at the Chattanooga RMH in 2010 when her husband suffered a heart attack. She said, “My world just stopped. I stayed at the hospital day and night. I asked someone in the waiting room if the hospital had a place for people who stayed day and night. She told me about the RMH right by the hospital.”

Barton said she was hesitant at first, but she is now extremely thankful for the RMH. “I was scared because I had never used any place like this before, but when I first walked through the doors, this very nice lady welcomed me and made sure I had everything I needed. She told me if I just wanted to watch some TV, that would be fine. She told me about staying overnight. She offered me a change of clothes. She offered me food for dinner. She took my mind off of what just stopped my whole world. I told her, ‘Thank you so much for what you do for strangers in need.’ She said, ‘That is what I am here for.’”

Barton said she is glad to support and represent RMHC. “As a McDonald’s employee, I ask people every day if they want to donate to a great place. People from many states tell me their stories about the RMH and how it was a lifesaver for them. I will do my best to raise as much money as I can for the house.”

Debby Pack reported that while she did not stay overnight at the Chattanooga RMH, when her late husband was in the Erlanger Intensive Care Unit for a long time, she was able to go to the RMH to eat, rest, and wait between visiting times. The ICU had six hour periods between visiting times, and Pack said, “RMH was a nice break from the ICU waiting room. It made that month much more bearable. They had healthy options to eat.”

Justin Howard, general manager of the Trenton McDonald’s, reported that some customers do not know what RMHC is or why they are being asked if they want to round up. Howard has worked for McDonald’s for 22 years, spending the last 18 as a manager.

He noted that while some guests might visit the restaurant occasionally, others are regulars and may tire of being asked to round up, but the question is simply standard procedure. The McDonald’s team does not expect repeat customers to round up every time, and Howard said, “It’s fine to say no. We’re not trying to sell you something extra to make extra profit.”

He explained that there isn’t a one-time project or goal amount for the fundraiser, but rather, Round-Up donations cover the ongoing operating expenses of the Chattanooga RMH.

Howard emphasized the community impact of our local RMH, saying, “It’s right there in our backyard. We care about these families, and we care about these kids.”