Ronald McDonald House Charities of Arkansas & North Louisiana (RMHCAR-NLA) today is well on its way to reaching an end-of-year goal to raise $6.4 million to construct a new 20-family suite Ronald McDonald House® on the campus of Willis-Knighton South at 9100 Susan Drive in Shreveport. The nonprofit charitable organization made the announcement at the kickoff of its “Where Hope Has a Home” capital campaign.
“There is a great need in Northwest Louisiana for families to have a free place to stay and receive the support they need during their child’s hospitalization. There are 386 Ronald McDonald Houses in the world, and it is time our community had one too,” said Roy Griggs, CEO of Griggs Enterprise, Inc. and a McDonald’s owner/operator.
Griggs is chair of the capital campaign and announced more than $6 million has been raised to date to construct the new House.
Ronald McDonald House Shreveport-Bossier will offer free lodging for 20 families each night and a supportive environment while their children receive treatment in area hospitals. Each family that stays in the House will have access to a private, double queen room, daily essentials, laundry facilities, indoor and outdoor play spaces, family great room, a spacious kitchen, dining room and family pantry in addition to many other amenities and activities. Meals will be provided by volunteer groups from the area, and transportation to and from other hospitals will also be provided to families.
“This will be the first Ronald McDonald House in Northwest Louisiana,” said Louisiana native and Ronald McDonald House Shreveport-Bossier mission director Lori Moore, “We’re so excited to be able to provide a home away from home for families of critically ill children who are seeking treatment at all local Shreveport-Bossier hospitals.”
“We are thrilled to expand our reach to support families in Northwest Louisiana,” said Janell Mason, chief executive officer of RMHCA-NLA. “Since we opened our first Ronald McDonald House in Little Rock in 1981, we have provided more than $47 million in free lodging, meals and support to more than 48,000 families from Arkansas and surrounding states, as well as from across the United States and other countries.
“Ronald McDonald House Shreveport-Bossier will serve as a beacon of hope for families facing unimaginable challenges, offering a warm and welcoming environment where they can find respite and support during difficult times. To achieve this goal, we are calling upon the generosity and support of individuals, local businesses, foundations, and organizations who share our dedication to supporting families who need to be close to their child in the hospital. We invite you to be a part of this campaign by donating, volunteering, or partnering with us to create a restful haven for these families,” Mason said.
Construction of the new Ronald McDonald House Shreveport-Bossier is expected to begin in early 2024 and be completed in 2025.
For more information about Ronald McDonald House Charities of Arkansas & North Louisiana and to donate to the ‘Where Hope Has a Home” campaign to construct Ronald McDonald House Shreveport-Bossier, go to rmhcar-nla.org.
