Harrison residents Tim and Darlene Florence spent three days during 1991 in an intensive care unit of T.C. Thompson Children’s Hospital. They slept in chairs and ate snacks from vending machines.
Their daughter, Vanessa, had been diagnosed with lupus, and her organs were shutting down, Mrs. Florence recalled of the treatment that turned into a three-month hospital stay. They couldn’t bear to leave her.
Then a hospital nurse told them about a newly opened building just across the street, the Ronald McDonald House, where they could sleep, catch a shower and hot meal, without being more than minutes away.
“We were able to be around other families. We understood what each other was going through,” she said of the mutual-support system they found at the Ronald McDonald House.
More then 10,000 families of hospitalized children have found that physical and emotional comfort in the Ronald McDonald House since it opened in 1990.
They will be special guests during a day of activities Nov. 6 celebrating the 20th anniversary of the house on Central Avenue.
“We are encouraging all families who have stayed in the house, all the volunteers who have helped here and former board members to come celebrate,” said Chinyere Ubamadu, manager of marketing and public relations for Chattanooga Ronald McDonald House Charities.
Free tours of the house, led by members of Alpha Delta Pi Sorority, will be given Nov. 6 from 1 to 4:30 p.m.
Ronald McDonald himself will host a free children’s party at Chattanooga Zoo that afternoon. The party continues that night for ages 21 and over, with dancing to Atlanta cover band City Heat.
The dance is free, but reservations are required by 5 p.m. Tuesday by calling 778-4300.
If You Go* What: Ronald McDonald House 20th anniversary.* Where: Chattanooga Zoo at Warner Park.* When: Nov. 6: 2-4 p.m. children’s party, 7 p.m. party for ages 21 and older.* Admission: Free.* Guided tours of the house: 1-4:30 p.m. on Nov. 6, free.By the Numbers* 3,500: Adopt-a-meal hot dinners served* 7,000: Children provided free dental care by CareMobile* 10,000: Families served by Ronald McDonald House* 310,000: Families served by Family Room in T.C. Thompson Children’s Hospital* 329,000: Dollars awarded in RMHC scholarshipsSource: Ronald McDonald House Charities
Known as “The House That Love Built,” the concept was the inspiration of former Philadelphia Eagles player Fred Hill.
As their daughter underwent treatment for leukemia, Fred and Fran Hill saw families sleeping in waiting rooms and going without food or showers for fear of leaving their critically ill children any length of time.
The first house opened in 1974. As the chain of houses proved successful nationwide, Ronald McDonald House Charities formed in 1984 to meet a broader base of children’s needs.
The local house opened in 1990 with 14 guest rooms. It is the 137th house in what is now an international network of 300 houses.
Families are charged a nominal fee, which house statistics show has saved its visitors more than $20 million in hotel costs.
Jane Kaylor, RMHC director for 20 years, said its operation is supported by more than 600 volunteers who help in a variety of ways. Of those, 44 have been volunteers since the doors opened.
The Florences said their daughter now lives in Memphis, married and the mother of two. They’ve never forgotten the help given by the house and have repaid that kindness by leading their church youth group in bringing food to help families lodging there now.
“One of the things that was most helpful to us was that my mother was able to come to the house while keeping our other child, who was 5 at that time,” Mrs. Florence said.
“The Ronald McDonald House provided us a place to all be together as a family at a time we really needed it.”