Give the gift of a meal and support pediatric patient families in our House programs.
You can help give families with a hospitalized child moments of togetherness by providing and preparing a meal at our Ronald McDonald House of Northern Virginia or Ronald McDonald House of Washington, DC.
Cater A Meal
If you can’t come in to volunteer but want to help, you can sponsor a meal for our families.
How It Works
Everything you need to know about making a meal for our families.
We provide the menu and groceries for your group to prepare a delicious, healthy meal that will give our guest families the food and nutrition they need to stay strong and have energy for their child. Volunteering to Feed The house is great for team building with coworkers, school groups, church or civic groups, birthday and anniversary celebrations, families or friends.
Each volunteer group participating in our Feed The House program makes a tax-deductible donation to our House to help provide the meal and support the program.
Please note: In order to keep our guest families safe, we require all visitors to be fully vaccinated. We appreciate your support of the health and safety of our guests.
More Ways to Help
If you can’t come in to cook, but want to help, you can fund a meal or make a Wish List donation to Feed The House.
VA House Amazon Wish List
Click HereDC House Amazon Wish List
Click HereDo I need to wear a mask?
No, guests are not required to wear a mask when indoors.
Do I need to show proof of vaccination?
Yes, all volunteers must show proof of COVID-19.
What if I cannot afford the donation to provide a meal?
We have the opportunity to pay for a delivered meal, prepare in an industrial kitchen and drop off, make snack bags, and other ways to support. Please contact Sarah at [email protected] to discuss alternative options.
How many people can I bring?
Six people are allowed for an indoor meal group. A maximum of ten is allowed for preparation of a meal and a dessert.
Do I need to bring groceries?
No, we provide the recipe and ingredients for your meal group. Please do not bring any outside food. All meals must be prepared in our kitchen.
Do I need to stay to serve the families?
Most of our families are on different schedules and come back late after a long day at the hospital. If there are families in the kitchen when you are finished preparing the meal, you can make them a plate if they ask. Otherwise, you will package the meal in individual containers for families to reheat when they get back.
Families coming back from a long day at the hospital are so grateful when a hot meal is waiting for them. Thank you for supporting families who are far from home and facing a serious childhood illness!