When a child needs critical medical care, the last thing a family should worry about is where they will sleep, eat, or find a moment of comfort. Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Iowa provides families with a true “home away from home” while their child receives medical care in Central Iowa -offering stability, support, and compassion during life’s most challenging moments.
With two House locations - one inside MercyOne Children’s Hospital and another just steps from Blank Children’s Hospital - families are able to stay close to their critically ill children while accessing private bedrooms, welcoming common spaces, on-site laundry, a stocked pantry, nightly home-cooked meals, and supportive services designed to ease stress and promote rest.
Thanks to a Variety Grant, Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Iowa was able to enhance the comfort of family rooms at its House near Blank Children’s Hospital. The grant funded the replacement of outdated televisions and brackets with brand new Smart TVs, ensuring every family can easily use their in-room television and stream programming that brings comfort, familiarity, and connection.
“These enhancements help create a more home-like environment for families navigating exceptionally difficult circumstances,” shared the Ronald McDonald House team. “We are deeply grateful to Variety for investing in the everyday comforts that make a meaningful difference for our families.”
For parents and children facing long days filled with medical appointments and uncertainty, these small comforts can offer a sense of normalcy and relief.
“When we arrived at the House, everything felt overwhelming,” one family shared. “Having a TV in our room where we could stream our favorite programming was so nice after a long day at our son’s medical appointments. It turned our room into a comforting space instead of just a place to sleep, and we were able to stream his favorite shows.”
Through thoughtful grants like this one, Variety – the Children’s Charity of Iowa continues to improve the daily experiences of families caring for critically ill children - helping turn hospital stays into moments of comfort, connection, and hope.
