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Dayton’s Ronald McDonald House celebrates 30 years of caring

Lance Clack of Sidney and Lori Crawford of Urbana look at pictures from the Crawford family’s Special Wish trip to Florida in the laundry room at the Ronald McDonald House. Clack and Crawford both have a daughter hospitalized across the street at Children’s Medical Center. Staff photo by Jan Underwood

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Barbara MacLeod of Kettering, a longtime volunteer at the Ronald McDonald House, wipes down the cooking island in the kitchen of the house for families of hospitalized children. MacLeod authored a book,

Jan Underwood Barbara MacLeod of Kettering, a longtime volunteer at the Ronald McDonald House, wipes down the cooking island in the kitchen of the house for families of hospitalized children. MacLeod authored a book, "Entering These Doors of Compassion, " about the more than 300 Ronald McDonald houses worldwide. An updated, second edition of the book was recently published.

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Volunteer Heather Montalvo of Xenia and Guest Services Manager Cara Wells organize cleaning materials for a big spring cleaning weekend at the Ronald McDonald House, 555 Valley St.

Jan Underwood Volunteer Heather Montalvo of Xenia and Guest Services Manager Cara Wells organize cleaning materials for a big spring cleaning weekend at the Ronald McDonald House, 555 Valley St.

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Kettering volunteer travels the world to show off Ronald McDonald Houses

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By Meredith Moss, Staff Writer Updated 6:35 PM Thursday, May 6, 2010

DAYTON — The two friends, washing pots and pans in the kitchen, are kidding around and having a good time. It’s hard to believe they’ve known each other for less than two weeks.

“I’ve only just met her, but I feel like I’ve known her for 12 years,” says a grateful Lance Clack, about his new buddy, Lori Crawford.

Their special connection is the glue that binds those who’ve signed their names to the guest book at Dayton’s Ronald McDonald House. Like thousands of parents before them, these two share the agony of having a hospitalized child.

In this case, the bond is especially amazing. After hearing the devastating news that his newborn daughter could not survive, Clack said a nurse suddenly noticed “two little flutters.”

Now, three weeks later, little Ellee Grace continues to make progress at Children’s Medical Center.

Lori Crawford can definitely relate. The Urbana mother of four went through a similar experience 12 years ago.

“When Jena was a week old, they said she wouldn’t live through the night,” she remembers “Now she’ll be 13. If you haven’t been through it, you can never understand. When Lance told me his story, it sent shivers up my spine.”

That camaraderie is just one of the reasons a Ronald McDonald House stay is like no other. The 14 private guest rooms in the attractive Craftsman-style home are filled with toiletries and books on the shelves. There are laundry facilities, kitchen cupboards stocked with food, a play yard and computer room. Oak and brick decor, handmade quilts and an aquarium add warm touches.

Most incredible is that overnights are free for those who have a seriously ill child and live some distance from the area hospital where their child is being treated. The House, founded in 1980 is directly across the street from Dayton Children’s and is celebrating its 30th year.

“With the cost of medical care, co-pays and medication, I’m not surprised that some families go bankrupt and lose jobs when they go through medical emergencies,” says executive director Rita Cyr. Before there were Ronald McDonald Houses, she says, families often slept in their cars, in hospital hallways, or in their child’s hospital room.

Having free lodging across the street allows parents to be at a child’s bedside but get away for a much-needed break — a shower, a shared meal, a load of laundry.

Guests are expected to pitch in — to clean up after themselves in the kitchen, make their own beds, keep the house tidy. The chores, they say, help them feel they are giving back, and can be therapeutic, giving them something useful to do while they are awaiting test results or a difficult procedure.

Thanks to an incredible array of donations and an army of devoted volunteers, the local house spends less than $1,000 a year on groceries but still provides three meals a day to 14 families. Donations come in the form of paper products, home-cooked meals, canned goods and toys.

Heather Montalvo, 29, says she doesn’t have a lot of money to give but enjoys giving her time. Every Tuesday after work, she heads for the house on Valley Street to do whatever might be helpful — from making beds and turning around rooms to typing. She recently joined dozens of other volunteers for the annual Spring Clean, scouring the house from top to bottom.

Montalvo, who is from Xenia, also enjoys interacting with families. Siblings — who sometimes stay with their parents when a sister or brother are in the hospital — are a priority.

“We try to spoil them rotten because their brother or sister is getting a lot of attention,” says Cyr. “They can pick gifts from our toy closet, we want them to know that you don’t have to be sick to get attention.”

Lori Crawford estimates she and other family members have stayed at the Ronald McDonald House 60 times over the years. She calls it her “home away from home.”

“Everyone in the whole house is so friendly and caring,” Crawford says.

Her new friend from Sidney agrees.

“The security guard is one of the greatest people I’ve ever met; we prayed together the other night,” Clack says.

“This has been quite a journey. This place has changed my life.”

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2440 or  mmoss@DaytonDailyNews.com.

How to help

The Dayton Ronald McDonald House, the 14th in the world, operates on an annual budget of just under $1 million and last year operated at a deficit. There’s a misconception, says executive director Rita Cyr, that the house is owned and operated by McDonald’s and Dayton Children’s, but that’s not the case, although she says, “they are amazing partners and neighbors.” Plans call for adding 14 rooms, because during the past two years, some families have had to be turned away.

Those who want to help can:

Save pull tabs from cans (they bring in between $8,000 and $14,000 each year) Drop coins in canisters at McDonald’s restaurants (it adds up to about $150,000 a year).

Donate time of any amount.

Donate goods including home-cooked meals. Wish list items include vacuum cleaners, cookware, crock pots, and white fitted twin x-long sheets. Check the Website for other needed items: www.rmhcdayton.org/wishlist.

Support the House fundraisers. The 14th annual Ray Wright Golf Classic and Dinner Auction is slated for Wednesday, July 14, at Yankee Trace. A giant rummage sale takes place this weekend,  May 7-9.

How to go

What: CARES Rummage Sale

When: 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., Friday, May 7, Saturday, May 8 and Sunday, May 9

Where: 430 Leo St., Dayton

Selling: Furniture, housewares, children’s clothing, toys, electronics, holiday and more

Purchases: Cash only, checks not accepted.

Parking: Free

For info: (937) 224-0047, ext. 20

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