The Ronald McDonald House Charities of Baltimore welcomed our family for 6 weeks while our son underwent treatment at Mt Washington Pediatric Hospital. We are forever grateful to the house for welcoming us into their house with open arms! Check out our stay and learn how you can support this amazing charity that helps so many families! 

If you’ve been following along for a few months, you will have seen and read our story of living with a pediatric feeding disorder. Our son, who is 4, was recently in the Feeding Disorders Program at Mt. Washington Pediatric Hospital to help in overcoming his food aversions, expanding his diet and making progress on the transition from the bottle to a cup. 

While in Baltimore for 6 weeks, we had the amazing privilege to stay at the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Baltimore! When I say it was an absolute blessing, I truly mean that and I’m excited to share about our stay! 

We weren’t able to check in on the first day of the feeding program but we checked in for the 2nd and then were able to stay the entire 6 weeks. When we checked in, we were giving a tour of the house, signed the house policies and then moved into our room! 

Our room and a queen sized bed, twin sized bed, full bathroom, dressers, and a TV with cable, DVD player, and WiFi. This was a perfect room for our stay and came with linens including towels and bed linens. 

House Accommodations 

The house has a room for each of the families that stay there as well as many community areas like a shared kitchen on each floor and a playroom on the first floor. The shared kitchen has a space in the refrigerator and freezer as well as in the pantry for each of the families to use. They also have stoves, utensils, spices and even a free food area in a refrigerator/freezer and pantry! 

Meals Provided by Volunteers 

This kitchen is where volunteers prepare meals for the families that stay at the Ronald McDonald House in Baltimore. Each night we were there, we received a delicious dinner from a volunteer group including companies like Under Armour and Southwest Airlines and then even family groups and school groups. These meals were served and we enjoyed them in the community kitchen eating area. Many mornings, we also had breakfast provided by an organization or volunteer group. What a blessing it was to not have to worry about meals while staying at the house. 

This area is where I spent the most time with families in the house. We developed friendships with numerous families while there and still keep in touch with them on social media.

Activity Hours

Activity hours were held here just about every night or sometimes down in the play room! 

One of the activity hours was hosted by Lockheed Martin and they brought in snap circuits which Liam absolutely loved. Even if there wasn’t an activity hour, we still went down to the playroom with the other families and let the kids play! 

Sometimes activity hours were held in the community eating areas. One activity hour that Liam really enjoyed was a painting activity in the 3rd floor kitchen! 

Outdoor Play Area

In addition to the indoor play area, the house also has an outdoor play area that Liam absolutely loved. He is a huge fan of slides and he enjoyed playing with the other kiddos while there. 

The many community spaces in the Ronald McDonald House are so welcoming and perfect for all of the families. While we were there, there was a patient that played the piano. He would go down there and play at random times and it was SO beautiful to listen to and so relaxing.

Support the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Baltimore

I had always heard about how awesome the Ronald McDonald House was for families but truly didn’t understand all that it took to run the house! As the house runs on donations, they are key to helping the families that stay there as they undergo treatment at local facilities. 

As we were only 2 hours from home, we were able to come home on the weekends and my friends and family dropped off donations for the house — food, cleaning supplies and more! Then, I took them back with us to give to the Ronald McDonald House for the families that stayed there. 

You can help the Ronald McDonald House from anywhere you are! I can tell you that each and every donation item goes to good use and the families greatly appreciate it. 

Order from their Amazon Wishlist HERE. 

Donate online HERE.

They are also building a NEW house — learn more about this project HERE.

Did You Know?

• There is only one Ronald McDonald House in the state of Maryland.
• We are an independent nonprofit organization.
• The community of Maryland, including generous individual and corporate donors, provides 100% of our 1.6 million dollar operating budget.
• We have been home to more than 35,000 families since our opening on June 28, 1982.
• Last year, families throughout the state of Maryland, 45 states and 22 countries sent their families to Maryland’s Ronald McDonald House.
• We are an extension of care for six world-renowned Baltimore hospitals: University of Maryland Medical Center; R. Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center; Johns Hopkins Hospital; The Rubin Institute at Sinai Hospital; Kennedy Krieger Institute and Mt. Washington Pediatric Hospital.
• Each year, more than 1,400 families arrive at our doorstep in search of hope.
• Each night, 36 families share our Home. Last year 1,451 families came through our doors and we provided 13,560 night of love, compassion and comfort.
• We provide care for our families 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
• Our families donate up to $15 per night if they are able.

Thank you Ronald McDonald House Charities of Baltimore for opening your home to my family!!