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Meals that Heal

We believe in the power of a home-cooked meal to bring comfort and warmth to families during challenging times.


Volunteer Opportunities

Serving a Meal at the House is one of our most popular volunteer opportunities. Due to space limitations, the ideal number for meal groups is 5 volunteers, and all volunteers must be 16 years of age or older. Here are ways your group can make a difference:


Lunch Service at First Floor Family Room at Riley Children’s Health for up to 150 guests:

Prepare and Serve ($750)

We will help you select the menu and we’ll purchase the ingredients. Come with your team to prepare and serve the meal with our Culinary Program Manager.

Serve a Catered Meal ($1,000)

Choose and purchase a catered meal for our Family Room, you serve the meal you catered.


 


Dinner at the Ronald McDonald House on Limestone for 50 Houseguests:

Prepare and Serve a Meal (cost of ingredients)

Your group brings your own unopened ingredients and prepares a dinner for our families at the House.

Prepare and Serve a Meal ($500)

We will help you select the menu, and we’ll purchase the ingredients. Come with your team to prepare and serve the meal with our Culinary Program Manager.

Serve a Catered Meal ($750)

Don’t sweat the cooking. Your group provides and serves a catered meal to our families.


Healthy Snack Assembly at the Ronald McDonald House on Limestone:

Prepare healthy grab-and-go snacks for families at the House. You will select at least one recipe per 5 volunteers and use our shopping list to purchase all necessary ingredients before your arrival. Groups are responsible for the cost of healthy snack ingredients.

Want to provide a meal for families? Select the “Let’s Get Cooking” button below.


 


Volunteer to Create Home-Cooked Meals for Guests

We believe in the power of a home-cooked meal to bring comfort and warmth to families during challenging times. We invite you to join us in creating these special moments by volunteering to prepare and serve meals for our guest families.

Let’s Get Cooking
Culinary Wish List

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Food Safety

Cooking On-Site

Your group will receive pre-set menus to select from, purchase the ingredients, and prepare the meal in our fully equipped kitchen with guidance from our culinary team on how to safely prepare, cook and assemble to the food.

Donate and Serve

Our culinary team will order a catered meal with your donation and your group will come to serve the meal.

Safety Practices

Our culinary team will review all safety protocols while on site. We ask that our volunteers practice proper food safety measures, including frequent handwashing, eliminating cross-contamination/raw foods, wearing hairnets/hair ties, and gloves, etc. Additionally, all refrigerated items should stay chilled as long as possible, and food in the kitchen should always be covered.

Meal Service and Clean Up

On-Site Dining

Some families may choose to eat in their rooms depending on seating availability and their comfort level. Families often have inconsistent schedules due to patient treatments and may not be in the dining room to eat while your group is on-site. Please know that finding a freshly prepared meal waiting in the refrigerator when they return is a welcome sight.

Packing Meals

Your group will pack any leftovers in to-go containers for families to enjoy after the scheduled mealtime.

Clean-Up

Participants are responsible for thoroughly cleaning the kitchen as part of the Meals that Heal volunteer shift. Cleaning instructions will be provided by our culinary team, and all volunteers are expected to stay until clean-up is complete. and all trash is taken to the dumpster.

Volunteer Expectations

We strive to create a safe, welcoming and respectful environment for our families, staff and volunteers. As such, we expect volunteers to adhere to the following:

  • Bring compassion and respect to your volunteerism.
  • Follow direction of RMHCCIN staff.
  • We welcome volunteers, staff and families of all backgrounds, ethnicities and religions. Please exclude any personal religious influences while on-site to ensure a welcoming space for all.
  • You may take photos of your group only and must thoroughly wash your hands after taking pictures or using your phone. Please do not take photos or videos of RMHCCIN families without permission.
  • Volunteers are prohibited from exchanging personal information with or soliciting services to our families.
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Frequently Asked Questions


  • All Meals that Heal volunteers must be at least 16 years old.

  • Meals that Heal groups have a maximum group size of 5 volunteers.

  • No – everyone who comes with your group should be there to actively volunteer and will be counted toward a total of five.

  • We require all volunteers to be entirely illness and symptom-free before volunteering.

  • Groups should plan to volunteer for 3.5 hours.

  • No – the House provides all dishes, drinkware, cutlery, and kitchen equipment needed to prepare and serve your meal.

  • Yes, there will always be a culinary team member to answer questions, get you situated in the kitchen and ensure everyone is participating in a safe manner. In addition, we will provide direction throughout your entire volunteer time. We will check-in with each group at least every 30 minutes to facilitate glove-changing, handwashing, proper social distancing and to ensure that all safety measures are being upheld.

  • Meals that Heal volunteer groups help provide a meal for our families at a price set to offset the cost of the meal or the group is responsible for bringing their own ingredients. See the ‘Volunteer Opportunities’ section above for more details.

  • Donations for Meals that Heal range from $500- $1,000 to offset the cost of the meal for up to 150 guests.

  • We will make every effort to reschedule your group for a future date, but no refunds will be issued if you need to cancel. Your financial contribution will still support Meals that Heal and provide meals to families.

  • If you have additional questions about Meals that Heal, these guidelines or your group’s participation, please contact Arielle Hirt at ahirt@rmhccin.org.

Make a Difference for Families. Make a Difference for the Community.


Parents in Indiana don’t know when their children will need medical help. But with your help, they’ll know they have a warm, friendly home away from home.

When we work together, they can heal together.

Get Involved Donate Now

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435 Limestone Street
Indianapolis, IN 46202

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The following trademarks used herein are owned by McDonald's Corporation and its affiliates; McDonald's, Ronald McDonald House Charities, Ronald McDonald House Charities Logo, RMHC, Ronald McDonald House, and Ronald McDonald Family Room.

RMHCCIN is recognized as a public charity under Internal Revenue Code section 509(a) and has 501(c)(3) status. Donations to RMHCCIN are deductible. Donors should consult their tax advisor for questions regarding deductibility. The RMHCCIN EIN is 35-1497202. A copy of the RMHCCIN determination letter is available upon request.

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