Dinner for the Families

Ronald McDonald House of Durham
Dinner for the Families

"What makes 'Dinner for the Families' special?"
Thanks for your interest in cooking dinner for our families at the Ronald McDonald House of Durham.  The families that stay with us often return to the House after a long day at the hospital and cooking a warm meal for themselves may be the last thing on their minds.  Giving these families the chance to sit down to a home cooked meal is just another way to make the Ronald McDonald House truly a "home-away-from-home" for families who need it the most

What to expect
-Plan to feed about 50 people -- please bring milk
-Please bring paper plates and plastic forkes, spoons, and knives
-Prepare and serve the meal at 6:00 p.m.; brunch at 10:00 a.m.
-General clean up
-Place leftovers in the House refrigerator - date and label food

Setting up, serving, and cleaning
It is of the utmost importance to bring enough people to help you set up, serve and clean up any dishes that may have been used.  Our kitchen is adequately equipped with 2 stoves/ovens, 3 dishwashers, 3 sinks, and plenty of counter space with a generous assortment of pots, pans, and other cooking utensils.  Our meals are served buffet style; paper plates and plastic silverware are generally placed at the end of the table, prefacing the serving bowls, with paper cups placed near where the drinks are being served.  When the meal is ready to be served, have one of the office staff notify the House families that brunch or dinner is ready to be served.  Please feel free to dine with our families - they welcome the opportunity.  Usually, after 30-45 minutes, all of our families who were planning to eat will have done so.  Any leftovers can be placed in the house refrigerators, but please, we ask that you label and date the food.

What should we cook?
We will be more than happy to assist your group with menu ideas.  For many, dinnertime here at the house is the only chance most of our families have to truly sit down and relax.  Your kindness in providing a complete hot meal means so much to them and is generally one of the memories they carry with them.  We welcome your creativity in menu selection; our only request is that it be a complete meal.  A complete meal usually can be as simple as a lettuce and tomato salad, roasted chicked, rice pilaf, green beans, dessert, and please bring milk.  (Please keep in mind we have many spaghetti and lasagna meals)

The staff and families appreciate the volunteer group helping clean the kitchen after a meal (just like at home).

Food must be cooked here on site or purchased from a health dept. graded food facility, i.e. restaurant, grocery deli, etc.
Food cannot be cooked in residential kitchens and brought in.

Information about our families
Our families come from various backgrounds and ethnicities.  The common thread among all of them is that they have a sick child having various treatments, ranging from scheduled checkups to long term care, resulting in extended stays aways from home.  Many of our families are under a lot of stress and appreciate coming back to the House after an exhausting day at the hospital to a relaxed, hot, home cooked meal.  While many of our families may not make it back in time for our scheduled meal, the saved leftovers in our House refrigerators can be re-warmed for them to enjoy at a later time.

Thank you in advance for donating your effort, time and talent to cook for our families.  Your kind gesture helps us continue to make the Ronald McDonald House of Durham the "House that Love Built!"

Contact: Jessica Maynard
            (919)286-9305
            Jessica.Maynard@ronaldhousedurham.org