The Ronald McDonald House

Both times Cayman has been in the hospital we have stayed at the Ronald McDonald house. This place is such a blessing. It cost just $10 a night.

There are 29 bedrooms containing two twin beds. Rollaway beds and cribs are available for additional family members. Every two bedrooms share a bathroom.

Mike and I did not keep the I Love Lucy sleeping arrangement.

There's a game room with a pool table, ping pong table, couple couches, and a big widescreen TV.

There is also 2 family rooms: one on the lower level and one on the main level. The family room downstairs (left) has a large sectional couch, a TV, games and puzzles. The family room on the main level (right) has two computers, a piano, 2 couches, and a TV.

There is a community laundry room. The house even supplies the detergent, bleach, and dryer sheets.

In the kitchen there is 5 stations that include their own sink, stove, and refrigerator. There's 3 dishwashers, and 2 microwaves. The set up reminds me of Home Ec class in high school. The kitchen is stocked with dishes and cooking equipment. Each family has their own cupboard space to store their own pantry food. Every 5 rooms share a refrigerator. The kitchen also has a very large walk in pantry stocked with lots of food that people donate to the house for anyone staying there to eat. Various groups of people volunteer their time to come in and cook supper every evening. Most of the time it is a church or U of M college students. Leftovers from these meals go into a community refrigerator for anyone to eat later.

The dining room is directly off the kitchen and next to the atrium that contains live plants with lots of sunshine coming through the skylights. There is a pop machine that only cost 25 cents per can. The kitchen and dining room is the only place where you can have food and drinks. Only water is allowed in the bedrooms. This keeps the rooms clean since the house doesn't have maid service. Each family is responsible for keeping their bedroom and bathroom clean. Everyone that stays there shares the house chores. There's a list on the office door that has assigned each room to a different chore each day. Examples of some of the chores are: empty trashes in all the public areas, cleaning the public bathroom, sweep & mop kitchen floor, load & empty dishwashers, vacuum hallways, etc. There is also a large play room filled with toys.


Staying at the Ronald McDonald House has saved us a lot of money! The first time Cayman was in the hospital we stayed there 14 days, so our total bill was only $140. If we would have stayed at a hotel costing $70 a night our bill for those 14 days would have been $980. You can see how big of a savings this was!! Plus, adding the food that is donated and prepared for us at the House is even more of a savings! These Ronald McDonald Houses are awesome. Because people donate to them they are able to help people like Mike and I. About 80% of the funds necessary to operate these amazing Houses come from generous donations. So if you get a chance to donate food, money, or volunteer to cook a meal for a Ronald McDonald House please do. Go here to read the Ann Arbor House's Wish List on items they need. Or donate to a McDonald House that is closer to you. It really does make a difference.