Ontario Construction News staff writer
Niagara Health and Ronald McDonald House Charities South Central Ontario (RMHC SCO) are set to build a Ronald McDonald family room at the Marotta Family Hospital in St. Catharines, aiming to provide crucial support for families with children undergoing hospital care.
Construction, spearheaded by local family-run business Silvergate Homes, is already in progress and is expected to be completed in four to five months. Generous funding from McDonald’s Canada, along with its independent franchisees and guests, RMH Canada, and RMHC Global, has facilitated the development of the room. Local fundraising initiatives are further supported by the Rotary Club of St. Catharines South and the May Court Club of St. Catharines.
“We are privileged to participate in this meaningful initiative alongside RMHC SCO and Niagara Health,” remarked Kelly Anderson, Sales and Marketing Manager at Silvergate Homes. “As a family business deeply rooted in community support, we take pride in contributing to the establishment of a comforting sanctuary where families can seek solace during challenging times. This project underscores our commitment to fostering positive change in Niagara and beyond.”
Scheduled to open on the fourth floor adjacent to the Children’s Health Unit, the Ronald McDonald family room will offer respite areas, laundry facilities, and no-cost food services. Additionally, it will host family-oriented programming such as movie nights and toy drives, in partnership with the Children’s Health Unit and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. The day-to-day operations of the room will be managed by Niagara Health volunteers.
“The establishment of the new Ronald McDonald Family Room underscores our steadfast commitment to patient-centered care and ensuring families feel supported throughout their hospital journey,” stated Heather Paterson, Executive Vice-President of Clinical Operations at Niagara Health. “We extend our gratitude to RMHC SCO for their collaboration in transforming this vision into reality and anticipate the positive impact it will have on our community.”
Family rooms, an extension of RMH, play a crucial role in maintaining family unity during challenging times. CEO of RMHC SCO, Mario DeDivitiis, emphasized the significance of such spaces, affirming their mission to provide families with a comforting environment during times of need.