new-site7651df57

Making a Home Away from Home

Mon, 15 Jun 2026 19:01:47 GMT

When Jennifer started having pain in her right ribs and elevated blood pressure, it was a sign that something was not right with her pregnancy. After a trip to the hospital, it did not take long for the doctors to diagnose Jennifer with HELLP syndrome, a pregnancy complication that affects the blood and liver during pregnancy, and she needed immediate medical attention. She was told she would be delivering her baby as soon as possible, weeks before her due date. Jennifer and Justin were rushed to Charleston, where they would deliver their baby girl, Gracelyn, weeks before her due date. After spending several nights in the hospital, Jennifer was released to go home. Gracelyn, however, had to remain in the NICU a while longer.

Gracelyn spent 23 long days in the NICU. During that time, Jennifer and Justin needed a place to stay close to their daughter’s side. “I don’t think we could have left her really even if we didn’t have a choice.” Living miles away from the hospital, they were unsure where they would stay until she was healthy enough to come home.

Justin and Jennifer were then referred to the Ronald McDonald House where they would stay within walking distance of their daughter while she received the life-saving medical care she needed. “It takes a big stress off of you. I actually got some good nights of sleep here. I don’t know if I would have slept at all at home knowing I was 60-70 miles from my daughter lying in an incubator trying to fight for her life.”

Many thoughts went through Justin’s head as he processed the news about his daughter being born early. The support system that the Ronald McDonald House provided, however, gave him comfort and helped him focus on what mattered the most– making sure his wife and daughter went home safe and healthy. “I went from I could lose my wife, I could not have my daughter, I could be raising my daughter alone, to a group of people that gave me a place to sleep that I didn’t have to pay anything for and a place to eat. If it hadn’t been for Ronald McDonald House, I don’t know where we’d be financially. Now we’re stable and continue to move forward thanks to this place.”

Jennifer and Justin did not have time to prepare when they found out their daughter would be born early. During their stay at the Ronald McDonald House, Jennifer and Justin were given all the necessities they needed so they could care for their daughter. “I was expecting somewhere just to lay my head,” said Jennifer. “But you had everything and anything you needed right at your fingertips. Whether it was toiletries or simple things you just take for granted, and it was all right here for us.” Jennifer and Justin also found the support they needed through the help of staff and volunteers while they were away from home. “The staff, the friends we made here, I still talk about everybody every day just because of how welcomed you feel, the support you have. You’re away from your family, and you have a family here.”

“Gracelyn is 2 years old now! She’s happy and healthy. We attribute that to the help of Ronald McDonald House and the NICU staff at Vandalia Health CAMC Women and Children’s Hospital. The staff and volunteers always made us feel at home and treated us with such kindness and care. We left there feeling like we had an extended family. Truly am blessed to have met them in our time of need. The friendships we made in the house with other parents and families in our situation. We are always praising the staff and volunteers. Thank you, folks, for all you do and continue to do!” said Jennifer.

Round-Up for Ronald McDonald House: How Your Spare Change Keeps Families Together

Mon, 15 Jun 2026 19:01:47 GMT

A Simple Way to Make an Impact

Every day, families walk through the doors of Ronald McDonald House Southern West Virginia, exhausted and overwhelmed, just trying to be near their child’s hospital bed. We give them more than a room; we give them home-cooked meals, warm beds, laundry access, and emotional support, all just steps away from the hospital. We do this with the help of our community.

Together with local McDonald’s , we’ve made it easy for anyone to help Ronald McDonald House families stay close by asking to R ound-Up for Ronald McDonald House at checkout.

The next time you visit your local McDonald’s, let your cashier know you’d like to “Round-Up for Ronald McDonald House.” That means rounding your total to the nearest dollar and donating the change to help families staying at Ronald McDonald House while their children receive life-saving medical care far from home.

Those few cents? It might mean a home-cooked meal after a long day at the hospital, a hot shower, a night of rest just minutes from their child’s hospital bedside. Simple comforts that can mean the world to a family caring for their sick or injured child.

Small Cents Add Up

In 2024 alone, local McDonald’s customers donated $182,000 with their spare change, helping to cover the cost of 1,444 nights of rest for families with critically ill or injured children.

When you ask to Round-Up for Ronald McDonald House, you become part of the support system families need during one of the hardest times in their lives. You help provide comfort and care that allows them to focus on what matters most, caring for their child.

And when thousands of pennies and quarters come together, they add up to something incredible: more nights of stay, more meals served, more families being by their child’s side.

RMHC Southern West Virginia announces philanthropic investment from JPMorganChase, unveils “Wish Room”

Mon, 21 Jul 2025 19:01:47 GMT

JPMorganChase is investing $25,000 into Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) of Southern West Virginia to help meet the growing needs of families with children in the hospital.

“We created the Wish Room to bring moments of joy to families while their children receive life-saving medical care far from home,” said Field. “Whether it’s a toy for the patient after a tough procedure or a surprise for a sibling who is missing home, these small gifts can bring a much-needed sense of normalcy to families with ill or injured children when they need it most. Thanks to support from partners like Chase, we’re able to give our families a simple reminder that they are not alone.”

RMHC of Southern West Virginia relies on community donations to serve families. Chase’s West Virginia team has proudly supported the organization since 2018 through philanthropic investments and volunteerism. Each month, employees prepare lunch for families staying at the Ronald McDonald House. To date, Chase’s West Virginia team has prepared nearly 40 meals so families can focus their time on caring for their children in the hospital.

“Ronald McDonald House Charities has touched many lives in Southern West Virginia and beyond,” said Randy Morgan, member of JPMorganChase’s Kentucky and West Virginia Market Leadership Team. “JPMorganChase is proud to support their mission and help spread joy through the new ‘Wish Room’ so families can focus on what’s most important – each other.”