A ‘home away from home’

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A sense of belonging and community envelops residents of Ronald McDonald House this time of year

The fact that Santa knows where to find the children and family members staying at the Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) house in downtown Toronto each Christmas isn’t the only magic that happens there.

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The truly remarkable phenomenon of the special ‘home away from home’ is the sense of belonging and community that envelops all residents who reside there, despite the enormity of the circumstances they face as caregivers of extremely ill children.

“There’s such a beautiful thing in our house,” said RMHC Toronto interim CEO Christina Scicluna, describing how families often leave inspirational notes for one another on chalkboards outside of each room.

“It’s just such an amazing thing to be able to walk down the hallways and see family to family sharing their encouragements. These are people who walk away with life friendships,” she said.

Part of a network of 16 houses and 17 in-hospital family rooms operated by RMHC nationally, the 81-bedroom house at 240 McCaul Street, just steps from The Hospital for Sick Children (Sickkids), is designed to offer all of the comforts of home to families who need to be close to a seriously ill child while they receive treatment.

In addition to providing hotel-style rooms and small apartments, relaxing living areas that include a media centre, library and crafting room, laundry facilities and a communal kitchen space, the home also has a private school so patients and their siblings can continue with their studies.

But it’s much more than a place to stay, said Scicluna. RMHC Toronto offers more than 20 programs designed to help families relax and have fun during what can be a chaotic time, from providing home-cooked meals and hosting holiday-themed parties, to offering complimentary massages and self-care workshops.

Ken Carswell, whose family spent 77 nights at the house while their newborn baby Mélodie received life-saving medical treatment, said they felt the weight lift from their shoulders as soon as they pulled up and someone came out to meet them.

“He described it as coming home to a second family at a time when you’re away from your community and the known, and you’re dealing with the scariest unknown, which is a sick child,” said Scicluna.

A French-speaking family from Quebec whose daughter was undergoing cancer treatment was initially shy about moving to Toronto and expressed concern over making the adjustment to communal living.

By the end of their stay they had actually made friends and call RMHC Toronto their adopted family.

In 2023, RMHC Toronto served 3,383 families from across Canada and around the world. Last year they served 23,000 meals, representing a 44 per cent growth year over year.

To support the charity’s mission to keep caregiving families together, RMHC relies on donations (rmhctoronto.ca/donate-today) and volunteers.

The current fundraising goal includes growing the total number of bedrooms provided across the country from 549 to 884 by 2028.

“This is not just a house, a place to sleep or grab a cup of coffee,” said Scicluna, recalling how the smell of freshly made cookies permeated the halls recently when the volunteer “bakers and shakers” arrived to do some baking. “Every single day there are these magical moments that truly make it feel like home.”