GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — To address the growing demand of families in need of a place to stay while spending time with their child in the hospital, eight more bedroom suites are planned to be added to Ronald McDonald House Charites of West Michigan’s campus. Combined with renovations, the addition will bring the facility’s capacity to 25 bedrooms, increasing their capacity by 50%.
The announcement marks the nonprofit’s 33rd birthday.
“We've been here since 1990,” Ronald McDonald House Charities of West Michigan executive director Ellen Carpenter said. “Our job is to take care of families that have hospitalized children. So, we try to take care of all their basic needs while they're here so all they have to do is focus on the health of their child.”
The expansion is part of their More Rooms, More Love campaign. Despite having helped more than 10,000 families since the organization was founded, they have also had to turn away nearly 5,000 others due to not having enough room. Organizers hope this newest push will change that.
“We would not be able to do this expansion if it weren't for the partnerships that we have with our healthcare providers here in Grand Rapids who are amazing, as well as our loyal donors, our supporters, our volunteers – like it's such an amazing community,” Carpenter said. “Together, we are going to be able to help more families, and that is super exciting.”
The organization hopes the expansion will allow them to serve an additional 150 families per year.
"As the reputation of our community, hospitals and clinics continue to grow, we believe it's our responsibility to grow along with them," Carpenter said.
"It just really blessed me," Ashley Starkey said.
Starkey, a Detroit-area mom, needed a place to stay when her daughter Eliana got pneumonia in December. She said it's been critical for her to be close to Helen DeVos Children's Hospital, and staying at the Ronald McDonald House allowed her that opportunity.
"Without Ronald McDonald House, I would have never been able to be so active in her recovery here and learning so much to be able to care for her at home," she said.
It has also meant having a support system away from home.
"I started to just kind of reach out to some of the people here, because everyone kind of stays to (themselves)," Starkey said. "So I'm like, 'Maybe I need to be that person.' Because (when) you're here, you need someone to kind of have that, that knows what you're going through."
The campaign started at $2 million, but officials announced a new goal of $2.5 million because of inflation. Their goal is about 78 percent complete.
To volunteer or donate, visit the organization’s website.
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