#FavouriteThings Holiday Gift Suggestions | Ronald McDonald House BC & Yukon

“In this series we bring you our #FavouriteThings Holiday Gift Suggestions which we personally recommend”

Using the old adage “It is better to give then to receive” * this is our suggestion for gift giving that gives back. We all have someone on our list who is either hard to buy for or who literally wants for nothing. This gift giving opportunity benefits many and leaves both the giver and receiver with a feeling of good spirit at holiday time.

RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE BC & YUKON CELEBRATES FOOD, FRIENDS AND FAMILY WITH FOURTH ANNUAL HOME FOR DINNER CAMPAIGN

Community fundraising initiative supports families across British Columbia with children requiring life-saving medical care

Ronald McDonald House BC & Yukon (RMH BC) proudly celebrates the fourth annual Home for Dinner community fundraising initiative. Each year, the program encourages individuals across B.C. and the Yukon to host safe in-person, outdoor, or virtual dinners, while raising money to support families travelling to Vancouver so their children can receive urgent medical care.

Sharing a meal with loved ones is always a special occasion and it’s even more meaningful when it raises funds to support families staying at RMH BC. That’s what Home for Dinner is all about. Whether cooking a multi-course Thanksgiving feast or curating a laidback cheese board, Home for Dinner hosts have limitless possibilities to fundraise. The program is simple: hosts invite families, colleagues or friends to safely and responsibly gather for a meal. Instead of contributing food, wine or gifts, guests instead donate to RMH BC, whose state-of-the-art House – situated on the grounds of BC Children’s Hospital – provides accommodation, community and kindness to up to 2,000 families each year.

Since 1983, RMH BC has positively impacted the lives of countless families through the most difficult of times. Here, families from across B.C. and the Yukon, are treated to a safe space where they can stay close to their children, regardless of whether their medical treatments require days, weeks, months or even years to complete. Plus, staying at the House – which offers healthy meals, art and music therapy, and an ecosystem of support from fellow families– saves families up to $6,000 per month in accommodation, food and other costs associated with being away from home.

“We’re so excited to see Home for Dinner enter its fourth year, particularly as families and friends are starting to reconnect after more than a year of self-isolating and physical distancing,” says Sunshine Purificacion, director of community development, RMH BC. “This past year has demonstrated the importance of a supportive community, particularly when we’re unable to be there for each other in person. We hope individuals across the province and abroad take this opportunity to enjoy a special dining experience with their loved ones, while also supporting families who are far from home and enduring an unthinkable emotional burden.”

“Home for Dinner is an important initiative for RMH BC, raising critical funds to support the families who must relocate to Vancouver for a child’s medical treatment,” says Richard Pass, CEO, RMH BC & Yukon. The House serves over 200 communities across BC & Yukon, and we are grateful to every one of our supporters for participating in the campaign this year.”

Here’s how to plan your Home for Dinner gathering:

Sign up as a host
Plan a home-cooked meal or support your favourite local restaurant by ordering takeout. Invite your friends, family or colleagues and make sure to follow current public health guidelines and recommendations!

Host Your Dinner and Fundraise by asking your guests to donate to your personal fundraising page in lieu of wine, flowers or other contributions.

Register as a Home for Dinner host by visiting www.give.rmhbc.ca/homefordinner. For more information or to simply make a donation, visit www.rmhbc.ca

Don’t forget to join the conversation online and share your Home for Dinner experience with the hashtag #homefordinner.

About Ronald McDonald House BC & Yukon
Each year, up to 2,000 families from across British Columbia and the Yukon travel to Vancouver in search of life-saving treatment for their critically ill children. Far from their homes, they desperately need accommodation and a place to stay together under one roof. Ronald McDonald House® BC and Yukon offers a home away from home, a community of support, and a restful space for families to heal better together. RMH BC & Yukon operates a modern and welcoming 73 room facility steps from BC Children’s Hospital and a Family Room at Surrey Memorial Hospital. With support from hundreds of volunteers, dedicated donors, and committed staff, we create a community of support for parents, siblings and patients so they can heal better, together. Rmhbc.ca

* proverb It is more virtuous to give or yield something than to receive something.

Media release and images provided by Gemma Bishop, Bishop PR.