Carol Baldwin
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Wakaw Recorder
It has been 14,600 nights since the Ronald McDonald House Charities Saskatchewan (RMHC-SK) opened its doors in 1985. To commemorate its 40th anniversary, RMHC-SK set a goal to raise $400,000 with the support of Mosaic, which is providing a $100,000 matching donation. The organization is encouraging the public to participate in a ‘Forty for 40 Fundraiser,’ where 40 individuals can come together to donate $40 each.
Tammy Forrester, CEO of RMHC-SK, stated, “The matching gift of $100,000 to the Miles to Go Campaign to support Saskatchewan families is a genuine investment in the families of our province. We are incredibly grateful for the support Mosaic has provided this year as we build and grow into our new communities.”
The ‘Forty for 40’ fundraiser kicked off across the province on September 13th, as Saskatchewan’s Ronald McDonald House celebrated its many years of serving the needs of children and their families in the province with a free BBQ and family-friendly events.
Construction is currently underway for the two new Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) houses in Saskatchewan, including the one in Prince Albert. The new building will be located less than a block away from the hospital, just off 25th Street West, on land donated by Lake Country Co-op. With a total cost of $8 million, this facility will provide private rooms for 12 families, along with a large kitchen area and spaces for gaming and fitness activities.
“In 2026, we will bring additional support services to families in Northern and Southern Saskatchewan, with the building of two new Houses. We have embarked on a journey to double our footprint and capacity, which in turn doubles the impact we can have on families across our province. Your support to build a 20-room House in Regina and a 12-room House in Prince Albert will enable us to blanket the province with care. “
In September 2016, Ronald McDonald House Charities opened its first Ronald McDonald Family Room in the Pediatric Unit of Prince Albert’s Victoria Hospital. This 1,300 square-foot haven offered families in northern Saskatchewan a comforting space to rest, recharge, and find support while staying close to their children receiving medical care. Since its opening, The Family Room has offered more than just basic amenities; it has become a genuine extension of Family-Centred Care.
Included in the redevelopment plans for Prince Albert’s Victoria Hospital is a new and expanded Ronald McDonald Family Room. This new space, in conjunction with the new Ronald McDonald House in Prince Albert, will ensure that families from all pediatric units and across northern Saskatchewan will have access to essential support services, regardless of their circumstances.
According to RMHC-SK, each year, over 5,000 children admitted to the hospital in Saskatchewan belong to families who must travel more than 100 km round-trip. (https://www.rmhcsk.ca/) Currently, only 20-30 percent of pediatric families in Saskatchewan are supported by RMHC, and when a family must leave their home community for medical treatment, they can be faced with huge challenges. The cost for travel and accommodations can be a limiting factor for families, especially those who require support over many days or weeks. The $39.9M Miles to Go Campaign was initiated to bring needed care to Saskatchewan families. Building Ronald McDonald Houses in both Prince Albert and Regina to serve families in the northern and southern regions of the province is vital due to growing populations and growing pediatric needs. Both regions deserve access to family-centred care. The two communities needed to raise $22M of the total, and with 85 percent of the fundraising total achieved for the expansion, the next stage of the project can get underway.
Often, individuals wish to donate items to RMHC, and items including gift cards for groceries, baking supplies, toiletries, crafts & recreation materials, and pick-me-up gifts go a long way in helping to accommodate families and make them feel at home.
Items that Ronald McDonald House Saskatoon has on its wish list include:
Slippers (Adult and kids’ sizes)
Toothbrushes
Breast pads for nursing parents
Small packs of Pencil Crayons, Crayons
Nursing pads, Nipple cream
Xbox Game Pass gift cards
“Little People” Cars for tracks
Small toys -Trucks, Dolls, Lego sets
Adult and Kid Activity Books
Teen room gifts: Mugs, Teen clothes, Room décor
Fanny Packs, Small Speakers
Baby Wipes
Ronald McDonald House Family Room, Prince Albert, can always use:
Travel-sized toiletries- shampoo, conditioner, hand sanitizer, lotion, toothbrush, toothpaste
Chocolates/activity kits for Halloween
Grocery gift cards
Donating one’s time is another way to contribute to RMHC. When thinking about what makes a space feel like home, it is the people who bring a home to life. That is what the volunteers do in their roles at Ronald McDonald House in Saskatoon and the Ronald McDonald Family Room in Prince Albert. While every role is unique, each is vital in creating a welcoming, home-like environment for families of sick children. Volunteers assist in creating a safe and comfortable environment, and add to a diverse collection of skills, experiences, culture and knowledge. The volunteers provide a spirit of support and generosity that positively impacts the guest families, visitors and staff.
“Families have to feel like this is home, or as close to home as possible. A place of comfort, safety, where they can just be who they are. So, if we’ve created a space like that for all the people we serve, then I feel like we are doing the work we have been called to do.” ~Tammy Forrester, CEO of Ronald McDonald House Charities Saskatchewan
Fundraisers, whether as a “Forty for 40” event or something different, will receive a gift of thanks based on the total funds raised. Whatever you like to do for fun, now you can do it to help families by raising funds for Ronald McDonald House Charities Saskatchewan. Participants can register at rmhcsk.ca.
“We welcome you to join us in making fun matter, by hosting a fundraising event in your community.”
If you have any questions or would like to get involved, please reach out to Karen Zinkiew, Development Associate at kzinkiew@rmh.sk.ca! Together, we are keeping Saskatchewan families close.
