by Monica Chamness
Staff Writer
It’s been eight months since the new Ronald McDonald House on the Southbank opened its doors and the 20 rooms designated for the families of sick children are full. And the warm weather means the number of guests are increasing.
“Summer is a busy season,” said Sarah Troup, marketing and development manager for the organization. “The numbers have slowly creeped up in the past month. There are more accidents [in the summer] with I-95 and I-10.”
Currently, level three of the building is a vacant shell, waiting to be occupied. According to Troup, the house will not be rushing to complete that floor despite having reached its maximum capacity. Adjusting to three times the space with the same number of staff is the current objective.
“We have check-in and outs every day,” said Troup. “We’re doing twice as many with the same amount of staff.”
As a result of moving into the new building, some positions have been restructured. At the end of the year, a planning session with the board of directors, volunteers and community members will be held to solicit suggestions to meet needs and set goals.
“The first phase was moving in and working the kinks out,” said Troup. “We’re going to plug along and get situated before we try to expand.”
Ronald McDonald House provides temporary lodging, food, business services, support groups and entertainment for the families of ill children who reside outside of the immediate area. Primarily, these children are being treated at Wolfson Children’s Hospital, Shands or Brooks Rehabilitation. Peanut Butter and Jelly Deli, a Ronald McDonald day program, allows the parents and siblings of children with all-day appointments to drop by to relax or grab a bite to eat while they are waiting. Additionally, four sterile rooms are available for young people who are recovering from or waiting on a bone marrow transplant. The facility is independently funded and community run.