This year the Ronald McDonald House of San Francisco is happy to celebrate its 20th year providing temporary housing and support services for families with a child receiving treatment in a San Francisco Hospital. Please help us honor this great milestone by supporting the House in one of twenty ways listed below!

20 Ways to Support the Ronald McDonald House of San Francisco

1. Volunteer at the House!
You or a group can volunteer your time and assist in day to day operations of the House such as gardening, organizing, or cooking meals.

2. Open Your Heart to Children & Families, In-Hospital 
As a volunteer in the House’s Child Bedside Program, visit young patients and families in over 10 pediatric departments at UCSF Children’s Hospital and provide beverages, supplies, and an open heart to children and families. Learn more about this new volunteer opportunity. 

3. Design a Fundraiser
You, your group or workplace can organize a Tournament or Contest and designate the House as recipient of the proceeds. For example, provide employees with incentives such as casual Friday if they donate.  Or Double Dare: Get your CEO/CFO/COO to do something out of character if the office reaches a pre-set goal.

4. Honor or Memorialize a Loved One or Colleague 
What better way to honor a loved one or a valued colleague than by donating in their name to a worthy cause like the Ronald McDonald House of San Francisco.  The person you honor or the family of the individual you memorialize will receive a card from the House informing them of your thoughtful tribute.

5. Cook a Meal for Our Families
Come cook a meal for our families any day of the week and ease their burden of having to be in the kitchen instead of at their child’s bedside.  Sign up to provide dinner any weekday or Sunday evening, or a breakfast on Saturday morning.

6. Sponsor a Room at the House
Underwrite a family guest room, patio, playroom, kitchen or great room for a whole year. Your organization’s name, logo and caring message will be displayed in the room. For example: “We at ________ are in awe of your courage. We stand beside you at this challenging time.”

7. Celebrate and Give!
For a birthday, retirement, anniversary, holiday party, or other company milestones ask your guests to donate to the Ronald McDonald House. Or, forgo the office party and donate the budget to the House.

8. Sponsor our Child’s Bedside Program
Our Child Bedside Program at UCSF Children’s Hospital brings beverages and supplies bedside to young patients and their families.  Because generous businesses provide most items in-kind, our out of pocket costs are only $400 a month for volunteers making over 1500 visits to families at their child’s bedside.

9.  Provide an In-Kind Service or Product
The House is always in need of construction and furniture companies to provide in-kind upgrades or materials. Plumbers, painters and other trades are needed to provide pro bono services. Chefs and restaurants are also welcomed to adopt the House and prepare an occasional meal for our families.

10.  Make Welcome Baskets
Get together with some friends and make toiletries baskets for our families. Families are not prepared for a long stay when a medical emergency arises. Basic toiletries are the last thing on their minds. Having these welcome baskets make our families feel cared for. 

11. Say Goodbye to a Car, Boat or RV
Donate your old car, boat or RV to the house. The House will then be paid in return for getting rid of something that has been cluttering your garage!

12. Schedule a Community Service Day for your Employees
Create a culture of giving in your organization by declaring a day of the month or year a community service day. Schedule a day of service at the House and do the gardening, paint some walls or cook a dinner, your choice!

13. Make a Gift of Stock
We have received very few stock gifts in the economic downturn. Here’s hoping for better days!  When the turnaround comes, the House has stock gifting instructions for you or your financial advisor to use.

14. Donate Airline Tickets or Miles
Some families live out of the country, state or far enough that they are not at a driving distance. Help them stay connect to the families by making it possible for a loved one to fly to the Bay Area.  Or donate miles to our event auctions, yielding major financial support to serve more families.

15. Kids Can Help Too!
It’s touching for families at the House to know that children and teens think of them and support the House.  Though our ability to host visiting school groups is limited, because children we serve are immuno-compromised, messages of friendship, drawings and fundraising activities are just a few of many Kids Can Help Too! ideas.

16. Make a Planned Gift
If you are currently giving to the house and want to make sure that the House is forever open to children and families who need our support, think about making a planned gift. You can name the House in your will or living trust to ensure it will always be here, supporting critically ill children and their families.

17. Bring Bang to Your Buck at Work
Name the Ronald McDonald House of San Francisco in your Workplace Giving Program, Combined Federal or United Way campaign.  Some employers match donations, giving more bang to your buck.

18.  Lead a House Activity
The Ronald McDonald House welcomes people to come up with kid- or adult-friendly activities that can help family members relax and reduce their stress if only for an hour or two. We invite you to lead a group of house guests in activities such as: craft workshop, games, jewelry making, scrap-booking, etc. We suggest you give us a call to gauge guest’s interest in the activity.

19.  Organize a Wish List Drive
Fill our Wish List and provide supplies to the Ronald McDonald House. Or, raise funds and we’ll do the shopping! Visit our Wish List for details on the items needed at the House.

20. Give Where the Need is Greatest
Or give to the program that speaks to your heart – family stays, the child’s bedside program, or shopping and wish lists.  If you choose the “greatest need,” we’ll designate your gift for the most pressing need of our families the month you give.

Thank you for standing beside these children and families at this challenging time!

Stop by and visit, we are happy to give you a brief tour and help you plan your giving project. Experience the spirit of the House!