• Posted: March 23, 2020
• better communities, Ronald McDonald House Charities of Chicagoland and Northwest Indian

COVID-19 has forced nearly every industry to adjust and adapt as the world works to fight off a global pandemic that has impacted everyone’s daily life in some way. While Illinois and other states have issued various forms of lockdowns that mandate those who are not working in essential fields stay home, charitable organizations that rely on volunteers are struggling to get by.

The Ronald McDonald House Charities of Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana rely on volunteers to keep its five area locations running smoothly. These volunteers are responsible for both the monetary donations to provide meals as well as cooking them for the charity’s guests. But with these volunteers forced to stay home to help stop the spread of the coronavirus, the Ronald McDonald House is struggling to offer its guests the support they need.

The non-profit estimates that it’ll need about $95,000 from outside sources to keep from forcing budget cuts.

“I know that people are being asked for a lot right now, but we hope everyone will continue to keep our families in mind during this stressful time,” Lisa Mitchell, with the Ronald McDonald House, recently told ABC Chicago.

This week, Powering Chicago pledged a donation of $25,000 to assist the charity during this difficult time.

“One of Powering Chicago’s core missions is to invest in better communities, and we can’t think of an organization that exemplifies this better than the Ronald McDonald House Charities,” said John Donahue, Executive Director of Powering Chicago. “Ronald McDonald House is a pillar of our community and we were happy to assist such a great organization during these unprecedented times.”

Powering Chicago’s $25,000 donation will go toward providing meals for the charity’s guests. Four of the five Houses remain open, as well as the Ronald McDonald Family Room inside Lurie Children’s. The charity’s 2 Care Mobile’s are available to Advocate Children’s Hospital to be deployed as needed.

Powering Chicago and the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana have a rich history. During the February 2019 arctic blast that passed through the Chicagoland area, Powering Chicago donated $85,000 to assist Ronald McDonald House when one of its pipes bursts and sent water streaming throughout the building. 

If you would like to make a donation to the Ronald McDonald House Charities, you can do so by visiting their website.