Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Savannah Ronald McDonald House© Provide?

For a critically ill child and their family, it can be the most important house they will ever visit. Our House has thirteen bedrooms and operates on a waiting list most of the year (our average waiting list is 16 families per day). The Savannah Ronald McDonald House© provides a “home away from home” for families who live more than thirty miles away and who have a critically ill or injured child receiving treatment at the Dwaine & Cynthia Willett Children’s Hospital at Memorial Health University Medical Center, St Joseph’s/Candler Hospital, or where needed in the Coastal Empire community.

The House provides a warm, home-like atmosphere where families can sleep, eat, watch TV or just relax and most importantly spend time with each other and with other families in similar situations. Families are initially referred to the House by hospital social workers. Upon arrival, each new family undergoes a brief orientation about the House and its procedures.

How much does it cost to stay at the Ronald McDonald House©?

The actual cost to House one family per night ranges from $100-$140. Each family stays in a private bedroom and is asked to make a contribution of $10.00 per night (the contribution rate is only about 5%). It is purely voluntary and no one is ever turned away if they are unable to contribute. Since the House first opened its doors in 1987, over 8,900 families have been served. The house currently serves approximately 280 families each year. Although the average length of stay runs 16 days, some families stay much longer. In 2015 4 families stayed over 130 days. The Share-A-Night program helps provide for the families who stay with us.

What are the most frequent medical conditions of children’s families served by RMH©?

The top three most common medical conditions for which families stay at our RMH© are:

• Premature Birth
• Hematology/Oncology treatments
• Trauma

How do families qualify to stay at the Ronald McDonald House©?

RMHC© of the Coastal Empire works with the referring Hospital or Physicians to assess the critical nature of the children and families we are serving.

What other programs does RMHC© of the Coastal Empire operate?

The Ronald McDonald House© is the cornerstone program of our organization. We also operate Ronald McDonald Family Rooms© in St. Joseph’s/Candler Hospital and Memorial University Medical Center in addition to the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile© in Beaufort, Jasper and Hampton Counties (SC).