by Joe Wilhelm Jr.
Staff Writer
Her job isn’t to make people better, but to make their days better.
Manya Stone has worked for Ronald McDonald House for 11 years and is the nonprofit’s family liaison. She meets with terminally ill children and their families after they have been referred to the facility by a local hospital and finds out what their needs are and introduces them to the temporary lodging facility.
“When people come in here, we know we can’t fix it,” said Stone, of the illnesses affecting children admitted to the House. “But what I can do is try to make today better. We make it a little easier for families that are away from their home, a little less stressful.”
The job keeps her busy. So busy, in fact, Stone doesn’t have a chair for herself in the office. Her computer is on a counter about waist-high, which allows her to stand and type. Big, black filing cabinets are on her left and they are filled with past guest files. They are also covered with pictures and notes from former guests.
Stone’s office is at the head of the hallway that runs down the middle of the House, so she can see just about everything that is going on on the first floor.
“It’s the most visible office in the building,” said Stone. “I can see when people come and go or when they are wandering down the hall in need of an answer to a question.”
The 42,000 square foot house opened Nov. 19, 2001 on the campus of Nemours Children’s Clinic and Wolfson Children’s Hospital. It offers 30 bedrooms, a large kitchen, dining area, laundry and playrooms. Special rooms are available for bone marrow transplant patients, day rooms for Clinic visit respite and elevator accessibility. A family business center allows parents to telecommute to work and an exercise room gives them a chance to relieve some stress. Support groups can utilize a community room for their meetings.
“I love working with the families,” said Stone. “It may be something as simple as providing a blanket or a listening ear to help someone out.”
Stone works at the second Ronald McDonald House opened in Jacksonville. The first was located on Jefferson Street and opened in 1988. Since the first House opened its doors, about 18,000 families have been served. There are over 235 Ronald McDonald Houses spread out across the country.
356-2466