About

A Home Filled with Hope
When a child is seriously ill, families’ lives are turned upside down. Life is put on hold; soccer games and ballet lessons take a back seat. Nothing is more important than healing the sick child. Many families travel hundreds of miles, and spend weeks or months getting treatment – a long time to be away from home. The Seattle Ronald McDonald House is a "home-away-from-home" for families while their child undergoes treatment at Seattle Children's Hospital. The House is built on the simple idea that nothing else should matter when a family is focused on the health of their child – not where they can afford to stay, where they will get their next meal or where they will lay their head at night to rest. In addition to providing housing, we also offer a stocked common pantry, meals through our volunteer dinner groups, activities and outings for kids, daily visits from certified therapy dogs, and many other services for our families. The House is so much more than a place to stay; it is a community.  

Anchorage Van Service
Although we are based in Seattle, we are very much a part of the local healthcare community in Alaska. In Anchorage, we provide a vital transportation service for families who come from across the state to access medical care. Our van service began in 2008 and drives families to the hospital, doctor's appointments, pharmacies, grocery stores, and more. In 2014, our van served 922 patients and their families.  

History of the Seattle House
Our House started in 1983 with just 20 rooms. Since then, we have grown to provide over 28,000 nights of housing to nearly 500 families per year. We typically operate at 97% capacity year-round. In 2003, we built two new facilities, including a self-contained apartment unit for bone marrow transplant patients. The renovation quadrupled the House’s capacity, so we can serve up to 80 families per night. While the majority of our patients come from Western Washington, Alaska, Montana and Idaho, we serve any family whose child is receiving treatment at Seattle Children's Hospital, including out of state and international patients.  

Global Connections
Our local Seattle Ronald McDonald House is a member of the global network of Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC). Together, RMHC chapters are helping to lessen the burden for nine million families around the globe every year.