In addition to safe and secure lodging, the Ronald McDonald House® of Gainesville offers comfort and reassurance to all families who are away from their homes. In this welcoming and supporting environment, families also find the opportunity to bond, offer encouragement, and share their experiences with others who are facing a similar crisis.

Our Facilities

• 30 bedrooms with private baths, cable service and phones with voicemail
• Two fully equipped kitchens, with shared refrigerated & private non-perishable food storage
• Help-Yourself pantry and cupboards
• Two laundry rooms with free washers and dryers
• Two living rooms with televisions and VCR/DVD players
• Bookcases filled with children’s books
• Private Pumping Room with three Medela Symphony breast pumps for nursing mothers
• A children’s playroom
• An outdoor playground area
• Family computer room with one computer & printer
• Free Wi-Fi access throughout the House

Services

• A shuttle, courtesy of Shands Hospital, provides transportation to the hospital and Medical Plaza on weekdays- Monday-Friday from 7:00 a.m. – 10:30 p.m. There is no shuttle service on weekends or holidays.
• Our House has NO transportation services, but is on several local RTS bus routes.
• Our Visiting Chef program’s goal is to have a home-cooked dinner every night at 6:00 p.m.  Occasionally, our Visiting Chefs also offer breakfasts and lunches.
• Both kitchens have Help-Yourself refrigerators and stocked pantry shelves.
• Activities are provided on a fairly regular basis, such as: chair massages by the students of the Florida School of Massage, arts &craft classes for children and adults, support group meetings for parents, and occasional 2- and 4-legged special guests & visitors.

Eligibility

Guests of our House must live outside Alachua County and have a patient who meets the following criteria:

• The patient must be 21 years or younger, single, and receiving medical treatment at a local medical facility. 
• Parents must be over 18 years old; if not, they must have an immediate adult family member over the age of 18 stay with them at all times.

ALL overnight guests in the House must:

• check in before 9:00 p.m.
• provide a photo-ID and
• wear an ID band while in the House

Donation

While it costs RMHC of NCF over $100 per night per room to provide lodging and other services, the House requests a donation of $10 for a night’s stay; no family is ever turned away because of their inability to pay.

Room donations go directly to support our mission of helping children and families. You may contribute your donation daily or weekly.  Please make an appointment with the House Operations Director if you are unable to meet this suggested donation schedule.