The Victorian Nationals MPs recently volunteered to cook dinner for families staying at the Ronald McDonald House in Melbourne’s North Fitzroy.
Ronald McDonald Houses in Victoria and Tasmania support more than 2000 families of seriously ill children, as well as high-risk pregnancies requiring medical treatment, predominantly from regional and rural areas.
Nationals Member for Euroa, Annabelle Cleeland, said so many people in the community had been benefitted from the remarkable work of the RCH charity, either directly or indirectly through knowing someone who relied on the accommodation support.
“The work that the Ronald McDonald Houses do is so critical for regional families,” Ms Cleeland said.
“The Ronald McDonald Houses in Melbourne provides essential comfort, care and kindness to regional families when they need it most.
“It was a joy to play a small part in relieving these families, providing a meal for them, and sitting around the dining table to understand their stories.
“It was such a pleasure to meet some of these families and cook a meal for them – taking some pressure away during a difficult situation, even if only for one night.”
While connected to McDonalds, these services still rely on significant external funding, including Government grants and donations from generous members of the community.
“It is so difficult to understand the true financial, emotional, and mental cost of caring for a child who need to undergo treatment at as a hospital that is far from home,” Ms Cleeland said.
“The road ahead for their family often means countless days in and out of hospital but thanks to the Ronald McDonald Houses, some of the stress is lifted.”
