Feed the LoveFamilies with critically ill children face immense challenges in accessing affordable, healthy food during long hospital stays, a situation that became more pronounced during the pandemic. Feed the Love began as a pop-up tent outside our partner hospitals at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospitals Oakland four years ago and has become a lifeline for families.
Thanks to the generous support of local partners and donors, we provide nourishing and balanced meals during lunch and dinner daily, helping ease the financial and emotional stress caregivers endure.
Our Feed the Love program brings the comfort and nourishment of over 145,000 meals across our Houses and partner hospitals in Mission Bay and Oakland each year. Our support goes well beyond the care and services offered within the walls of the Ronald McDonald House – we’ve become an entire neighborhood of support providing resources and solutions to the critical and pressing needs of families with sick children.
Please Contact Juan Hernández, Vice President, Programs & Community Engagement at juan.hernandez@rmhcbayarea.org or 650.470.6004
In partnership with Stanford researchers, Ronald McDonald House Bay Area initiated a study revealing what our front-line staff members have seen for years — food insecurity for families with children in the hospital is an underrecognized crisis. With jobs on hold and lives upended, far too many parents and caregivers struggle to afford to feed their families or access food during hospital stays that can last weeks and months. With 71% of study respondents reporting that they had yet to use our existing Feed the Love meal program services, we know there is a need to expand.
Cooking a warm meal comes from the heart and our families are so grateful for a meal made with love. Teams of 6-8 make a $2,000 donation and book a date. Then, our Ronald McDonald House team creates a healthy, comforting menu and guides your team through a rewarding, fun meal service.
By making a $10,000 Pantry Pal donation, you can help fund an entire month’s worth of pantry supplies to feed families in medical crisis.
To learn more and become a Pantry Pal sponsor, please contact Jay McCullough, vice president of philanthropy, at jay.mccullough@rmhcbayarea.org or 650.470.6005.
Rally your team and community to create Care Kits, including snack packs, that we deliver to families at the hospital through our Hospitality Cart bedside visit program.
Learn more about Comfort & Care group volunteering, which can be conducted onsite at Ronald McDonald House Stanford or offsite and dropped off. We go through thousands of kits every quarter, and a snack goes a long way for families unable or unwilling to leave their child’s bedside.
Contact us at development@rmhcbayarea.org to sponsor lunch or dinner for families at the hospital. Sponsorship levels range from $600 – $1,200 depending on current needs and food costs.
Local restaurants, caterers, and other food providers can also donate prepared meals (75-120 portions depending on selected meal service).
