Greater Tampa Law, P.L. is proud to announce that Brett Szematowicz, along with the Pinellas County Young Republicans, volunteered to help feed families in need at the Ronald McDonald House downtown St. Petersburg location. Ronald McDonald House Charities relies on local volunteers and donations to give children and families, some of whom are going through the most difficult times in their lives, the peace and support they need to focus on a child’s treatment and recovery.
The Ronald McDonald House Charities site describes what the organization is, and how you can help:
Many families travel far from home and spend several weeks or months to get treatment for their seriously ill or injured children – a long time to be away or to divide a family. And, for children facing a serious medical crisis, nothing seems scarier than not having mom and dad close by for love and support. A Ronald McDonald House provides a place for families to call home so they can stay close by their hospitalized child at little to no cost.
Our Houses are built on the simple idea that nothing else should matter when a family is focused on the health of their child – not where they can afford to stay, where they will get their next meal or where they will lay their head at night to rest. We believe that when a child is hospitalized the love and support of family is as powerful as the strongest medicine prescribed.
Allow Families to Face the Weight of Illness Together
Families are stronger when they are together, which helps in the healing process. By staying at a Ronald McDonald House, parents also can better communicate with their child’s medical team and keep up with complicated treatment plans when needed. They can also focus on the health of their child, rather than grocery shopping, cleaning or cooking meals.
Allow Children to Get the Best Care
When your child is sick, you want the best care possible – even if it is hundreds or thousands of miles away. The Ronald McDonald House allows families to access specialized medical treatment by providing a place to stay at little or sometimes no cost.
Services for Families
At every House, families can enjoy:
Home-cooked meals
Private bedrooms
Playrooms for children
Depending on the House, these services may also be available:
Special suites for children with suppressed immune systems
Accredited education programs
Recreational activities
Non-clinical support services
Sibling support services
The generosity of volunteers and donors make it all possible. In return, families either stay at no cost or are asked to make a donation up to $25 per day, depending on the House. The RMHC Global Policy is that families are never turned away; if it’s not possible to pay, the fee is waived.
To find your local house, and to help volunteer with the great people working there, follow this link:
https://www.rmhc.org/chapter-search?country=United+States&state=Florida
If you volunteer at the Ronald McDonald House by All Children’s Hospital in St. Petersburg, make sure to say hello to the two Joes and Claire!
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I think it is wonderful what you guys do.
