Ronald McDonald House Wellington

Carl and Chloe Little's youngest child, Cruz, began showing worrying signs of reflux as a baby, including seizure-like movements and episodes where he stopped breathing. Over the past two years, Cruz has had multiple treatments and surgeries - during which time, the family stayed in our Family Room at Southland Hospital and our Christchurch House.

Read about their journey here https://rmhc.org.nz/family/the-little-family-gore/

“It meant so much to us to have RMHC’s support during this difficult time. We were able to experience life as a new family together, and for that we are so grateful.”

When Blanche and Louie's firstborn Sebastian was born unexpectedly at 32 weeks, Ronald McDonald House Charities NZ offered the new parents a home while Sebastian gained strength in the NICU. You can read their story here https://bit.ly/3S7X7xW

The Dunne family have stayed at Ronald McDonald Houses across New Zealand since daughter Promise was just 12 weeks old. She is now 17, and still looks forward to staying at Ronald McDonald House when she's in need of surgery or treatments.

Mum Emma puts it best, "although we never want any of this to happen to us, sometimes in life situations occur, and however strong and capable we are, it is too much. It is too hard, and we need someone to come alongside us and say, “hey, let me help with this load”. This is the blessing that is Ronald McDonald House. It is a strong and versatile community of caring humans who meet you on a road you did not intend to travel. There, they meet you with grace, empathy and real assistance."

Read their full story here https://bit.ly/3S5v1TZ

RMHC NZ would like to offer our heartfelt thanks to St Oran's College Lower Hutt for all their hard work and effort. The SOC Stalls event recently raised over $17K to help support the families that stay with us every year.

A huge ka pai to you, St Oran's, for your ongoing support. You have really cemented your place as part of the RMHC NZ family ❤️

✨ Mānawatia a Matariki! ✨
We have been celebrating across the motu this week - hosting a feast, having our volunteers run Matariki themed activities, and adding stars filled with beautiful notes for the families to read in our facilities. A special thank you to Dilworth School, whose students performed some waiata and a haka for the families at Domain House. Happy Māori New Year!

✨ 121 nights and going home! ✨
Pictured is nine-year-old Te Waarakihi Hooper-Felise, who alongside his whānau has called our Domain House home for over 120 nights. From all of us at RMHC, our team and volunteers, we wish you all the best! ❤️

National Volunteer Week is coming to a close, and RMHC NZ would love to spotlight three more fabulous volunteers who lend their time to our Wellington House.

Kim and Jan (pictured) both started in September 2023 after their friend Tracy encouraged them to come along and volunteer; Tracy, Kim and Jan come in every second Wednesday to give us a hand with laundry and bedmaking. Jan and Kim have a personal connection to RMHC, both having had babies in Wellington Hospital and utilising the Family Room during that time.

They love volunteering because they enjoy the staff interaction, have fun and a few laughs together. "It’s a great place to be and it’s nice to be helpful" they say. Thank you for your mahi ladies! ❤️

Recently we celebrated National Volunteer Week alongside a Matariki celebration at our Wellington House. We hosted a pre-dinner event for our volunteers before heading to the communal area to dine with the families which was so special. We have some incredible volunteers in Wellington who have donated a huge amount of hours - special mention to Andrew (4,000 hours) and Leigh (3,400 hours). We are truly grateful for the community of staff, volunteers and families who make up the rich tapestry of our organisation ❤️

It's National Volunteer Week and we are celebrating the wonderful individuals who give the gift of their time to RMHC NZ. Pictured is Peter Scott, a dinner host at our Christchurch House. Peter has recently retired and has been "looking for ways to keep active and involved".

Peter has a history of volunteering having offered his services to multiple not-for-profits over the years, and with his background as a chef we are very lucky to receive his expertise in the kitchen! "I get to meet a lot of great people at RMHC. The House gives families somewhere to retreat to after what I can only imagine to be an emotionally tough day."

Thank you for hard work Peter! If you're interested in becoming a volunteer or lending your own cooking talents to RMHC, please visit our website at https://rmhc.org.nz/support-us/volunteer/

We are beyond proud to be named as a finalist for the Wellington Airport Regional Community Awards - Wellington City! The airport and five local councils came together to recognise the work carried out by community groups, and to celebrate volunteers for their valuable contribution to society.

❤️ National Volunteer Week ❤️
RMHC NZ are delighted to celebrate the wonderful people who give the gift of their time to us. Volunteers are an integral part of our organisation and make a huge difference in the lives of families. RMHC NZ has 260 active volunteers and we are grateful for each and every one.

Courtney Cairns (pictured), volunteers at our Christchurch House and says, "I had heard a lot of great things over the years about RMHC. With my hospitality background I knew I could lend my skills to the House."

"The greetings from the staff when you enter the House, walking into the kitchen and meeting new people, seeing wee kids playing together and laughing over dinner - you can't ask for more than that!"

"I can't begin to imagine what being away from your family home would be like when your child is sick. Ronald McDonald House offers a huge relief to families and lets them focus on spending time together, rather than worrying about dinner or where they'll sleep." Thank you Courtney, and all of the amazing volunteers who do so much for RMHC NZ ❤️

Recently we've had the pleasure of hosting staff from Crown Worldwide at ribbon cutting ceremonies across the country. Crown have been a partner of RMHC since 2021 and have generously decided to become room sponsors of three rooms this year.

Crown Worldwide are a global business that have helped millions of families relocate their lives and get settled in their new home. We love having them as part of the RMHC family and thank them for their generosity and support ❤️ 🏡

When three-year-old Nia Quinn became critical, her family had to travel from their home on the Kapiti Coast to Wellington for her to receive multiple surgeries and high-level care. Having the use of the Ronald McDonald House in Wellington ensured they could stay together during an unimaginably difficult time.

"The care, consideration, kindness, and aroha that Sharyn and the team at RMH showed my whānau will be something I treasure forever," says Brooke, "It’s a blessing to have the facility available at one of the most stressful moments in your life."

Read more about their journey here https://rmhc.org.nz/family/the-quinn-family-kapiti-coast/

Today is the International Day of Families ❤️👪

For over 30 years RMHC NZ has been a refuge for thousands of Kiwi families, providing a ‘home-away-from-home’ while their child receives hospital care.

Every day we are moved by the strength and courage of the families that stay with us and work as hard as we can to ensure that when the unexpected happens, they are able to focus on what matters most - each other.

To learn more about how you can help us keep families together, visit our website today https://rmhc.org.nz/

125 nights and going home! The Fox family - mum Erin, dad George and baby Indie said farewell to the team at our Christchurch House last week. The team were sad to say goodbye but are so pleased that the new family get to go home after Indie's NICU stay. Best wishes Fox family 👶 ❤️ 🏡

We were overjoyed to host staff from Chubb Life New Zealand at our Domain, Wellington and Christchurch Houses this past week. Chubb Life generously sponsor three rooms across our largest Houses and visited us on-site for their ribbon cutting ceremonies.

They mentioned it was a great way to see for themselves the difference RMHC NZ makes in families' lives. Room sponsorship is an integral part of our fundraising and impacts on thousands of Kiwi families every year. Chubb Life, your generosity and ongoing support are greatly appreciated, and we look forward to continuing our relationship into the future.

Two Masterton mums have joined forces to raise money for RMHC NZ after meeting at our Wellington House when their sons were both born premature.

Ryleigh Clode (pictured with now two-year-old son Kaiden) and friend Holly McKay raised $1,000 for RMHC during our recent House to House campaign. We're so grateful for your hard work and for giving back to our organisation - thank you so much ❤️

Marty, Brent and Daxa organised a bucket collection outside of Moore Wilsons Wellington and brought along some very special helpers - their German Shepherds, Nova and Luka. The doggos must have been their good luck charms as they raised over $500 for RMHC New Zealand! Thank you for your efforts team 🐶❤

Meet ten-year-old Louis Guthrie, who travelled up from Blenheim to our Wellington House this week with his family in tow. Louis has been selling eggs for the past two years to raise money for RMHC New Zealand, donating $1,000 in total!

The Guthries stayed at Ronald McDonald House when Louis' sister was born, so they understand firsthand what the organisation means to Kiwi families. Thank you, Louis and Guthrie family, for your mahi and generosity ❤️ 🏡

During the month of March we had two teams from Lane Neave Lawyers come into our Christchurch House to cook for the families. They created some delicious meals, and the families staying with us were very impressed!

We host Family Dinner Programmes in both Wellington and Auckland Houses - if you and your workplace or group would like to find out more about our Family Dinner Programme, you can visit https://rmhc.org.nz/support-us/volunteer/

Over the Easter weekend Cactus Events hosted HighLight: Carnival of Lights at Brewton, Upper Hutt. They very generously chose RMHC NZ as their charity partner this year. It was a spectacular event that lasted three days, providing lots of family fun. Thank you so much for choosing us ❤

We asked - and you sure delivered! We'd like to extend a huge, heartfelt THANK YOU to everyone who donated to our Easter egg drive. You helped to make Easter truly magical for the children who stayed at our facilities over the weekend. We hope everyone enjoyed a safe and festive long weekend 🐰 🍫 ❤️

🚨Today is our Last Match Day!🚨

We need your help to make a real difference!

Due to the overwhelming participation in the last Match Day, our valued partner Ray White has generously agreed to match donations again!

That’s right, today Ray White is stepping up to match every single donation, up to a staggering twenty-five thousand dollars! That means your impact DOUBLES instantly!

Double your dollar, and double the hope for those who need it most 💥
Families facing tough times need our support now more that ever. Click the link to take action https://housetohouse.org.nz/

✨Volunteers needed urgently!✨

RMHC are the Charity Partner of HighLight: Carnival of Lights and are looking for volunteers to help run things this Easter Weekend.

We are so excited that Highlight; Carnival of Lights are supporting us and want to make this a fantastic event! We are looking for 24 volunteers to come and help on Fri 29 March, Sat 30 March or Sun 31 April (between 5.45pm and 10pm).

Can you spare a few hours to help run this breathtaking event, and help give back to the NZ community?

If you can we’d love to hear from you! Please reach out to our Volunteer Manager Melissa on [email protected]

No plans for Friday night? Last chance to join us for Cocktails in the Capital - tomorrow night at 6pm, in Wellington 🥂

📍 , 14 Jessie Street, Wellington City

An incredible night is planned, with delicious food, cocktails, live entertainment, auctions, and more!

🎟️ Last few tickets available! Grab yours now: https://rmhc.org.nz/event/cocktails-in-the-capital/

Join us to raise much needed funds for families who must travel far from home for their child's hospital care. It's fundraising events such as this that ensure we stay true to our promise to never turn a family away ❤

Cocktails in the Capital - RMHC New Zealand We’re so excited to announce Cocktails in the Capital is coming to Wellington March 2024, raising funds to support Ronald McDonald House Charities® New

A massive thanks to everyone who joined us at the Fielding Golf Course for an incredible Golf Day in support of RMHC NZ last week! It was an amazing turnout with fantastic local support, raising an outstanding $21,000 🌟

A huge shout out to Daniel and Stephanie Pitchforth for their dedication and hard work in organising such a successful event. We’re also incredible grateful to all the participants, sponsors, and volunteers who made this day possible. These contributions have made a real difference in the lives of families who need it most!

Thanks once again and let’s continue to make a positive impact together.