McHappy Day proceeds staying local, helping set up Ronald McDonald Room at RIH

“It’s great to see the community rally around the same cause because we all have been touched by someone who has used or will use the Ronald McDonald House,” Gozda-Sekhon said.

But not everyone running the till and delivering food was an employee. Many of the hands working McHappy Day are volunteering their time.

“The volunteers are actually other business owners, business workers, city councillors, just the general public is volunteering,” Gozda-Sekhon explained. “Actually, two families who stayed in the Ronald McDonald house are volunteering with their children which is amazing.”

Ten per cent of all sales made during McHappy Day and 100 per cent of all swag items sold will go toward the Ronald McDonald Room at the Royal Inland Hospital, slated to open sometime next year.

“Funding is essential, not everything can be funded through government and through public funding,” Jenna Vanderburgh, RIH Foundation director of annual giving, said. “We are a very fortunate hospital to receive such generous donations from our community. McHappy Day is just one of those excellent events that happen annually that localizes funding to RIH.”

Soon to be located on the third floor of the Phil and Jennie Gaglardi Tower, near the pediatrics and neonatal intensive care unit, the Ronald McDonald Room will have family living quarters and a community area

“There will be a little bit of a community room for families to socialize, do a bit of connecting, have some downtime. Maybe it’s an opportunity for a patient and family to do a puzzle – you know, have something a little less clinical,” Vanderburgh said.

Once operating, the Ronald McDonald Room can host one family at a time.

Vanderburgh believes this will come in handy for out-of-town families in the region receiving obstetric care at the hospital.

“Oftentimes they are looking at a hotel, or staying with family friends and if that’s not an option that can be very challenging. There are commute issues,” she said. “In this regard, a family will be able to stay near baby and at the hospital here.”

by Sydney Chisholm

McHappy Day proceeds staying local, helping set up Ronald McDonald Room at RIH

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