TORONTO — In an effort to address food insecurity and support families with ill children, Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) Canada has introduced the RMHC Family Cookbook.
The collection of recipes, straight from the kitchens of the 16 Ronald McDonald Houses across Canada, aims to provide hope and nourishment to those in need. Every download of the cookbook enables a generous donation from RBC Insurance to help feed families being supported by RMHC across the country.
Recent data reveals that caring for a sick child can cost a family of five in Canada up to $20,000 in out−of−pocket expenses during the first month alone, including a staggering $5,800 on food. RMHC helps to alleviate both the financial and emotional stress on families by providing critical meal programming to ensure families are nourished for long days at the hospital by their child’s bedside.
To meet the growing demand for food support, Ronald McDonald House and Ronald McDonald Family Room programs have been expanding support to enhance food accessibility for families facing long days at the hospital. Across the country, these include employing professional chefs in Ronald McDonald House kitchens, offering to-go meals and baked goods, food delivery to hospital units, and even providing a fully stocked commercial kitchen for families to bond over preparing their own meals together.
“Access to meal programs is a critical need for families with seriously ill or injured children being treated at one of Canada’s paediatric hospitals, second only to the need for accommodation,” says Kate Horton, CEO of RMHC Canada. “We’ve witnessed a surge in demand for meal programs across the 34 RMHC programs from coast-to-coast-to-coast. In response, we’ve introduced new initiatives to ensure that families can enjoy fresh and nourishing meals in a way that best suits their needs, as they navigate some of their most challenging days.”
