Thank you for your interest in volunteering for Meals from the Heart provide meals to our families. Given the current spread of COVID-19, we are suspending our Meals from the Heart and Culinary Hearts programs until further notice, and are not currently accepting applications at this time.
If you would like to donate a catered meal for our families, please view the calendar for each location to identify an available date and set up your catering. You can also make a donation to support families during this time.
Thank you for your understanding, and we encourage you to check back in the coming weeks for further updates.
Families staying at a Ronald McDonald House are often far from the comforts of home, including freshly prepared meals. Through Meals from the Heart, volunteers provide meals for families, allowing them to eat together without the stress of cooking or the expense of dining out.
Whether you’re looking for a teambuilding activity for colleagues or a fun way to give back with friends, Meals from the Heart is a great way to give families a taste of home.
We are currently scheduling Meals from the Heart groups through June 2020. Applications for dates after June 30, 2020 will not be accepted at this time.
Please be sure to review the FAQ for all the details, rules, and requirements for participating in Meals from the Heart.
| Meals from the Heart * | Culinary Hearts ** | ||||
| House | RMH near Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital | RMH near Advocate Children’s Hospital | RMH near Loyola University Medical Center | RMH near UChicago Comer Children’s Hospital | RMH near Lurie Children’s |
| Address | 0N1250 Winfield Rd. Winfield, IL 60190 | 4410 W. 93rd St. Oak Lawn, IL 60453 | 1 Airmail Rd. Hines, IL 60141 | 5444 S. Drexel Ave. Chicago, IL 60615 | 211 E. Grand Ave. Chicago, IL 60611 |
| Volunteer Group Size | 5-10 volunteers | 5-10 volunteers | 5-10 volunteers | 5-10 volunteers | 6-20 volunteers |
| Lunch Shift | Serves 15 Tues. and Thurs. 10:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. | Serves 20 Mon. – Fri. 10:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. | None | None | Serves 50 Sun. – Fri. 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. |
| Dinner Shift | Serves 20 Sun. – Fri. 4:00 – 7:30 p.m. | Serves 30 Daily 4:30 – 8:00 p.m. | Serves 25 Daily 4:00 – 7:30 p.m. | Serves 20 Daily 4:00 – 7:30 p.m. | Serves 80 Daily 4:00 – 8:00 p.m. |
| Brunch Shift | Serves 15 Sat. 9:00 a.m. – noon | Serves 20 Sat. – Sun. 9:00 a.m. -noon | Serves 15 Sat. – Sun. 9:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. | Serves 15 Sat. – Sun. 9:00 a.m. – noon | Serves 50 Sat. 9:00 a.m. – 1 p.m. |
| Calendar | Donate a catered meal to CDH | Donate a catered meal to Advocate | Donate a catered meal to Comer | Donate a catered meal to Lurie | |
*Meals from the Heart: Volunteers handle the meal planning and preparation from start to finish. Volunteers create their menu, purchase all necessary ingredients, and cook their meal in our fully-equipped kitchens.
**Culinary Hearts: Volunteers provide a financial donation and our culinary team plans the menu, purchases the ingredients, and leads the volunteers to create delicious meals for families.
Culinary Hearts at RMH near Lurie Children’s
Donation for Culinary Hearts support the ongoing success of the program and ensure our House can offer families 14 diverse meals each week. Groups receive a link to donate via credit card once a volunteer date is confirmed.
- A gift of $400 provides lunch
- A gift of $600 provides dinner
- A gift of $400 provides Saturday brunch
If your group is unable to volunteer on your reserved date, we will make every effort to reschedule your group for a future date. If you need to cancel, no refunds will be issued, but your financial contribution will still support Culinary Hearts and provide meals to families.
Meals from the Heart at RMH Family Rooms
At our Ronald McDonald Family Rooms, small groups of volunteers purchase catered meals from local restaurants to help families who are staying in the hospital.
| Family Room | Family Room in Comer Children’s Hospital | Family Room in Lurie Children’s Hospital | Family Room in Edward Hospital |
| Address | 5721 S. Maryland Ave. Chicago, IL 60637 | 255 E. Chicago Ave. Chicago, IL 60611 | 801 S Washington St. Naperville, IL 60540 |
| Volunteer Group Size | 1-2 volunteers | 2-4 volunteers | 2-4 volunteers |
| Lunch Shift | Serves 50 Mon. – Fri. noon meal drop-off | Serves 20 Mon. – Fri. 11:30 a.m. meal drop-off | Mon. – Fri. 11:30 a.m. meal drop-off |
| Dinner Shift | Serves 60 Mon. – Fri. 6:00 p.m. meal drop-off | None | None |
| Calendar |