Ronald McDonald House: Sanctuary for Families in Medical Distress

When a board member's family faced the uncertainty of a loved one’s hospital stay, they realized the true value of proximity and support. This episode, I'm joined by Stacey Hodge, Sr. Director of Community Relations and former board member Jerry Alestra, to explore the invaluable role the Ronald McDonald House Charities in Sacramento plays in similar scenarios. Stacey takes us on a journey through her evolution from a dedicated volunteer to a key figure in the organization, revealing the profound impact of community support on families in need. Meanwhile, Jerry shares a heartfelt story from a personal angle, recounting how the charity supported his family when his granddaughter was hospitalized. 

We take a closer look at the array of support services that make the Ronald McDonald House a sanctuary for families in crisis. From private rooms and communal spaces to meals and activities, the house fosters a nurturing environment that allows families to stay close to their children during medical treatments. The importance of partnerships with civic organizations and community volunteers is underscored, highlighting how these collaborations provide memorable experiences that offer relief to families during trying times. The conversation also delves into the charity’s strategic efforts, such as the McDonald's Roundup program, which ensures that these services remain accessible without any financial burden on the families.

As we navigate some of the challenges faced by the Ronald McDonald House, such as the need for expansion and the continuance of essential services, we celebrate the commitment and passion of those who support its mission. This episode highlights the charity's ongoing efforts to extend its reach, with plans for additional rooms to accommodate the increasing demand. With 97% of every dollar directly supporting families, the Ronald McDonald House stands for hope, demonstrating how community spirit truly can transform lives. Learn how you can be part of this enduring legacy of compassion and support.

To learn more about the organization, you can visit the website: https://rmhcnc.org/.  Follow Ronald McDonald House Charities on your favorite social links below.

 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rmhcnc/                                                 Twitter: https://x.com/rmhcnc                                                                             Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RMHCNC 

Chapter Timestamps

(00:00) Understanding Ronald McDonald House Charities
(06:59) Support Services at Ronald McDonald House
(11:56) Community Engagement at Ronald McDonald House
(19:38) Ronald McDonald House Impact and Needs
(30:07) Supporting Families in Health Crisis
(38:44) Providing Hope and Support for Families

Thank you so much for listening to this nonprofit story! We appreciate you. Please visit the website to sign up for our email updates and newsletter. https://www.nonprofpod.com/ And if you like, leave me a voicemail to comment on the program, leave a question for us to ask in the future or a message for me, Jeff Holden. I may even use your voice mail message in a future episode of one of our incredible local nonprofit organizations. https://www.nonprofpod.com/voicemail. Thanks again for your support in listening, commenting and sharing the great work our local nonprofits are accomplishing.

Transcript

Jerry Alestra: [00:00:00] To be five minutes, 10 minutes away. Have that call. You need to come in. They're there. It is a lifeline. The Ronald McDonald House, there is a lifeline to families. We're going by minutes, not hours, or days by minutes. And to have that functionality to stay at the house versus our home in Lincoln, could be a 40 minute drive, could be longer their instant access.

That is the greatest gift you and the charity have given to my family.

Jeff Holden: Welcome to the Nonprofit Podcast Network. Here, our purpose and passion are simple to highlight the incredible nonprofits that make our communities stronger. Each episode is a chance for these organizations to tell their story in their words, sharing not just what they do, but why it [00:01:00] matters. To the people they serve, to their supporters, and to all of us who believe in the power of community.

Through podcasting, we hope to amplify their voices, inspire connection, and give them one more tool to reach the hearts of donors, partners, and neighbors alike. This work is made possible through the generous support of our founding partners. CAPTRUST offering fiduciary advice for endowments and foundations serving Sacramento, Roseville, and Folsom and online@captrust.com and Western Health Advantage, a local not-for-profit health plan that believes healthcare is more than coverage.

It's about caring From supporting the American Heart Association to making arts and wellness accessible for all. Western Health Advantage truly delivers healthcare with heart. Learn more@westernhealth.com. I'm proud to welcome our newest partner, core executive leadership and comprehensive support services working in it, [00:02:00] so you can work on it.

Visit cx OR e.com. Just starting this episode. I can't help but think of my favorite menu item fries. In case you were wondering, I'm opening the door to a place many people have heard of. Few truly understand Ronald McDonald House Charities of Northern California. I'm joined by Stacey Hodge, who first volunteered back in 1997 and former board member Jerry Esra, whose family experienced the house during his granddaughter Eliana's first fragile months.

Together we unpack what a home away from home really means. 39 private rooms a night day. You support when beds are full, warm meals from volunteers, even a teen hangout and a cart with a heart that brings comfort right to the pediatric floors. We'll talk about Camp Ronald McDonald at Eagle Lake, how referrals [00:03:00] work across hospital partners.

Why a penny per Happy meal and the roundup at the register really matter and clear up the big myth that McDonald's covers everything. They don't. With only 13 staff, a leann budget and an army of volunteers. This charity turns small, acts into life-changing proximity for families in crisis. Stay with us for the human story and the simple ways you can help Stacey Hodge.

Jerry Esa, welcome to the Nonprofit Podcast Network. 

Stacey Hodge: Thank you for having us. I appreciate it. 

Jerry Alestra: Good day, Jeff. 

Jeff Holden: Thank you. So what's kind of exciting about this is most people know. What we're talking about generally. I mean, who doesn't know McDonald's? 

Stacey Hodge: Right. 

Jeff Holden: But I don't think many people really know or understand what the Ronald McDonald House is, other than the superficial misunderstanding of it's a house for Ronald McDonald.

Right. 

Stacey Hodge: Right. 

Jeff Holden: [00:04:00] Which is anything but 

Stacey Hodge: right. 

Jeff Holden: So let's start from a really neat spot, Stacey, you've been working with the organization in some way, shape or form, starting as a volunteer in 1997. 

Stacey Hodge: Yes. The late 19 hundreds. Yeah. Yeah. 

Jeff Holden: Actually that sounds so long ago when you positioned it that way, but it's so true.

Darrell Teat: Yeah. Yeah. 

Jeff Holden: What was that orientation like? And I think that'd be a great way to get us oriented. To the genesis of the Ronald McDonald House here in Sacramento. 

Stacey Hodge: So I saw an ad in the Sacramento Bee. There was a helping others column and they were looking for volunteers. The first Ronald McDonald House was opening in Sacramento and we're still the only Ronald McDonald House in Sacramento, and they were looking for volunteers.

I was. Staying home with my kids at the time, but I had a background in marketing pr, special events, and so I came to the house to find out what it was about and learned along the way that it's a temporary housing for children and families that come to Sacramento. They need [00:05:00] a place to stay while receiving medical care.

They can be. Being treated at any hospital, any medical facility, and they can stay at the Ronald McDonald House, and that keeps the families close and the parents nearby. And sometimes the child is on an inpatient basis and they're actually at the hospital and the family's going back and forth. And sometimes the child stays at the Sacramento Ronald McDonald House, and then the family is taking them to appointments.

I also learned that in addition to the Sacramento Ronald McDonald House, the other main program is Camp Ronald McDonald at Eagle Lake, which is a Yep. Camp for. Campers with disabilities and disadvantages. Were on 35 acres near Susanville, California. And so there was multiple programs that I wasn't aware of with the charity.

And as far as McDonald's went, I assumed that McDonald's provided all of the funding for the charity. But they are a partner in the charity and they started the first Ronald McDonald House in Philadelphia in 1974. They don't provide a hundred percent of the [00:06:00] funding. They do promotional items and things within the stores like the Roundup program that does benefit the local charity, but their business is hamburgers and so they are supportive and we are their number one charity of choice, but they don't provide all of the funding.

And, 

Jeff Holden: and let's not forget Fries and shakes too. 

Stacey Hodge: Yes, yes. And so we do get my 

Jeff Holden: favorites. 

Stacey Hodge: Yes, we do get a penny for every Happy Meal that's sold. 

Jeff Holden: Oh wow. 

Stacey Hodge: And then what's been really popular lately is the Roundup program, and that benefits our local chapter and just really makes a difference. And I don't know that people realize a couple cents here and there really adds up and really makes an impact for the family and children we serve.

Yeah. 

Jeff Holden: When a little do a lot, it adds up. 

Stacey Hodge: Yep. Yep. 

Jeff Holden: Jerry, you were going to offer something and as, as a former board member, you have a very good understanding of the organization as well. 

Jerry Alestra: Yes, sir. I, I do want to add just a simple little thing 'cause it's the two sides of the same coin on this and it's really come to [00:07:00] fruition how?

Oh, I'm gonna get emotional. I think that's okay. Okay. Let me slow down. Uh, my granddaughter stayed there, so when I simply wanna say to everybody out there, it's a home away from home. Mm-hmm. And the people make the charity, it's just a building. And people like Stacy. Our workers there that work for the charity, the people that volunteers, the different companies that come together from outside and they make Ron McDonald House Charities, Northern California, what it is today, and they make a difference in people's lives.

Jeff Holden: Mm-hmm. And we are going to get to your story a little bit later. I'm, which, which I want you to hold that thought because there's no, I mean, we're gonna get, I'm a little passionate, we're gonna get your full story. Gotcha. How many families can you serve at any one point in time? 

Stacey Hodge: We can serve 39 families a night at the Ronald McDonald House.

At Camp Ronald McDonald. We're serving about 1200 participants, campers and assistants for one summer, and at camp we're only open during the summer. Kind of from Memorial Day to [00:08:00] Labor Day, and then otherwise we're snowed in. So between the House, 39 families, somewhere around a thousand, 1200 families a year, and then about 1200 families or campers at At our camp.

Jeff Holden: And there's never a cost to the families, correct? 

Stacey Hodge: Correct. So we ask all families that stay at the Ronald McDonald House. If they're able to make a $20 donation per night or even a portion thereof, but most of them cannot, and that is completely fine. So a lot of times they lack the resources to to make that donation.

And so that's what we do in terms of fundraising. The actual cost to the charity is about $95 per night per family. So you can see there's a little bit of a deficit there. Mm-hmm. And that's what my department does is we are community relations. We do the fundraising and outreach into the community.

Jeff Holden: Stacy, with regard to, you work with multiple hospitals? 

Stacey Hodge: Yes. 

Jeff Holden: The, the, all our hospitals You're on, you're on the uc Davis campus. 

Stacey Hodge: Yeah. [00:09:00] 

Jeff Holden: But how do you actually work with them? How do you know? How does a family become involved? How do they get to Ronald McDonald House? With all the different hospital campuses that we have in the area.

Stacey Hodge: Right. I always, I always say to people, if you've never heard of a Ronald McDonald House or don't know what we do, that's a good thing. That means you've never had to stay at one. You don't know anyone that's ever had to stay at one. That's right. Right. And they get their referrals through the medical personnel.

So through the hospital, usually nurses or social workers, we'll let them know that we have availability and they go through the process of seeing if we have availability. Unfortunately, we're full a lot of the time. I 

Jeff Holden: would imagine 

Stacey Hodge: 39 families a night. And so if we are, then we're able to put families on a waiting list and usually they're on there about two nights or so, and then we can get 'em in.

But we also have a day use program, so if we don't have availability to spend the night there, we are able to open the facility so families could use our laundry rooms. Our brand new [00:10:00] nap room, our barbecues, our playground area. They can take showers, they can hang out and watch movies. So it's a way that they get a little respite from the hospital.

So it's open to pediatric families at any Sacramento area hospital. 

Jeff Holden: And I would imagine the spectrum of care that's going on for the children. Can be very, very broad. You may have people who are only there for a couple nights, but I know when we visited the facility, you had people, at least one family had been there for quite some time.

How do you manage that or, or better yet, what is the average length of stay? 

Stacey Hodge: Average length of stay is somewhere around 15 to 16 nights, but I looked at our census this morning and we have one family that's been there 305 nights. 

Jeff Holden: Oh my gosh. Almost a year. 

Stacey Hodge: Yeah. So you do get those extremes. And then you also get the families that think they're gonna check in for two weeks and they get to go home early.

Jeff Holden: Okay. 

Stacey Hodge: So that's a part of what we do is because when families are near a child, they heal faster. They get to go home quicker. 

Jeff Holden: Yeah. And, [00:11:00] and that makes perfectly good sense, not to mention just the emotional toll it takes on everybody. A, when a child is, is sick or challenged needs surgery, whatever it may be, but b.

All the way through the extended family. 

Stacey Hodge: Exactly. 

Jeff Holden: And do you typically just house the immediate family, parents of the child, or is there more. With grandparents or visits, how does, how does that all work? 

Stacey Hodge: So anyone that's a support person for that family is welcome to stay with us as long as we have the room.

And so a lot of times, siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles, neighbors, even we see more siblings during the summertime when the kids are outta school. And a lot of times when they're in school, you'll have one parent at home with those kids because they're still going to school and one parent's staying at the Ronald McDonald House because they have a child that needs medical attention.

So it just kind of varies, but anyone that's a, that's a support person for that family is welcome to stay with us. 

Jeff Holden: And what will they find on campus? What's what's there? 

Stacey Hodge: [00:12:00] There's a lot. So like Jerry said, 

Jeff Holden: and I kind of teed that up 'cause I got to see it, so I know there, I know there's a lot. 

Stacey Hodge: So we are a home away from home and so we want to provide all the amenities that these families would have at home.

So they all have private bedrooms, they all have private bathrooms. We also supply laundry rooms. We have a workout room. We provide a continental breakfast seven days a week. We have. A barbecue area. We have a covered patio area, a playground. We have a game room where kids could go in and game for the day if they want.

We have Hard Rock Hotel and Casino as one of our sponsors and they sponsored the Hard Rock hangout room for kind of our tweens and older kids to kind of hang out and they have video screen. And so again, it's comfortable, it's safe. Anything that these families might need that they can ask us for, we will find a way to make it work for them.

We. Don't provide all their meals, but again, we do a continental breakfast. We [00:13:00] provide pizzas on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and then we have volunteer groups that come and do our meals from the Heart program where they make a lunch or dinner for our families. So anything that they might need, we're trying to provide for them.

Jeff Holden: And they have kitchens too, so they can 

Stacey Hodge: absolutely 

Jeff Holden: prepare their own. So they, 

Stacey Hodge: yep, 

Jeff Holden: you need to choose to and, and I know some of the families probably have. Particular needs for types of food, you know, ethnicities. Yep. Different types of foods that wanna prepare their own stuff. So, uh, it's, it's quite an amazing facility.

Not to mention there's a Ronald McDonald there. 

Stacey Hodge: Yes, there 

Jeff Holden: is. If the kids can kind of hang out and, you know, we'll have a picture somewhere in this, this, you know, the discussion of us sitting by Ronald, my producer and I, because it was fun. It was fun. Collaboration. Clearly you are a part of our community.

Stacey Hodge: Mm-hmm. 

Jeff Holden: Having been around for so long with the facility now, really well known, what does collaboration look like to you? Who do you work with? 

Stacey Hodge: So a good example of collaboration, I [00:14:00] would say, looking at Camp Ronald McDonald, we work with a lot of user group, nonprofit. Organizations that bring their camps to Camp Ronald McDonald's.

So an example is Camp Recreation and they bring developmental youth with developmental disabilities to camp Ronald McDonald. And so all the programs are geared towards the disabilities of that group. We also have Camp Kes, Kesem, and um, which is for our youth that are dealing with parents that might have cancer.

Hmm. And we also have another group that are deaf and hard of hearing, and so we collaborate with those camps and gear all of our programs for the disability of the week that they're there. 

Jeff Holden: Boy, yeah, I'm thinking we work with an organization, we had an episode for me, one out in Placer County. Yeah, I, I'm sure in some way, shape or form or connected, certainly chat center with, 

Stacey Hodge: yep.

Jeff Holden: Them children with hearing disabilities. 

Stacey Hodge: Mm-hmm. 

Jeff Holden: Yeah, those are that, that's just so neat the way that you [00:15:00] interface with these other organizations. What about our law enforcement and. Just civic organizations, how do they interface? 'cause I know they're involved in some way, shape, or form. 

Stacey Hodge: Oh, absolutely.

Especially a good example is uc, Davis Police, we sit on the campus of the uc, Davis Med Center and the uc. Davis Police have been amazing. They. They have brought out their canine dogs. They have come over and done hot dog barbecues. They've done toy drives, wishlist drives, and so we work really closely with them and, and then also our local fire department is brought out a.

Firetrucks for the kids that we serve and the family. So they get to see those kinds of things. And it's just exciting for our families to be able to interface with these groups. And I just think it makes a big difference, a special treat. 

Jeff Holden: Oh, and it's so far above and beyond just the illness that you're immediately dealing with to where maybe siblings now have an experience that what could [00:16:00] potentially be a horrific experience?

You know, they're in the hospital. Yeah. And brother or sister is, is really ill or needs some, some particular care. Now it becomes, my gosh, that would brother, sister is, is being cared for, yet they're getting an experience they would never, ever get in any other situation. 

Stacey Hodge: Absolutely. 

Jeff Holden: So it becomes a really positive, encouraging and referral based, you know, enthusiasm for not only the organization, but you know, even back to the, you know, the home McDonald's franchise mm-hmm.

Group. The facility itself was a capital campaign. 

Stacey Hodge: Yes. 

Jeff Holden: And you talked a little bit about the way it's funded. Let's talk a little bit more, because I think people, they tend to think, well, there it is. It's all taken care of. Yeah. And we just go, but in fact, that's not really the case. The Capital campaign builds it.

It's paid for. You don't have to worry about that. 

Stacey Hodge: Right. 

Jeff Holden: But it has to be maintained. 

Stacey Hodge: Right. 

Jeff Holden: And it has to be, you know, providing the services. Talk to us a little bit about that. 

Stacey Hodge: [00:17:00] So we, we want to be diverse in terms of fundraising, so that we're, our funding comes from a lot of different sources. So an example is we have a sponsorship program called Adopt A Room, and this is where folks.

Organizations, individuals can sponsor bedrooms and buildings. At the Ronald McDonald House, it starts at $2,500. It's an annual sponsorship, and then their name is on our website. It is on that room. And then they get quarterly updates of how many families stayed in that room, where the families came from, how much that sponsorship impacted the families that we serve.

And that's one of the ways that we, we provide funding. 

Jeff Holden: I really like that because you see the. Immediate impact of your contribution over the course of that year for those families. 

Stacey Hodge: Exactly. 

Jeff Holden: Yeah. That's 

Stacey Hodge: pretty neat. Exactly. And then we do two special events a year. We do a sporting clay tournament in the spring, and then we have our second annual pickleball classic app I saw on the website.

October [00:18:00] 25th. I'm not a pickleball player and I'm learning, I'm learning 

Jeff Holden: way to jump on a trend. 

Stacey Hodge: Um, it's a Johnson Ranch in Roseville, and it was a, our last year was a lot of fun. We did a pickleball drop where folks could purchase pickle balls and they're dropped from. Lift and then the pickle balls that are numbered, that land closest to the bullseye Win prizes including cash.

So you can win a thousand dollars and you can win $200. And we have Southwest tickets that are part of that raffle. So it's exciting and fun for our pickle. Pickleball players, but you don't have to be present to win, and so you don't have to play pickleball. So they're available online? Not online. We don't sell them online, but all the information is online, on our website 

Jeff Holden: and, and we'll get to that in a little bit too.

Stacey Hodge: And then we write grants and we have a vehicle donation program. So we have lots of different things that we're doing to provide our funding. 

Jeff Holden: So basically you're privately funded here in the community. It's all your effort. There's no federal funds coming in. Exactly. It's, it's either grant oriented.

Stacey Hodge: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. 

Jeff Holden: And or. [00:19:00] From philanthropic donors. 

Stacey Hodge: Exactly. 

Jeff Holden: Which is great. And you know, given the situation that we see, at least for the foreseeable future, that the, you know, the house is gonna be in pretty good shape. 

Stacey Hodge: Yeah. That's our hope. Yes. That's our hope. 

Jeff Holden: It's time to take a break, big mac, fries, and a large Coke.

Please to hear what the people who make this program possible have to share. 

Darrell Teat: We are really excited to be part of the family and contribute to the work that you all are doing. Core provides fractional and interim executive services along with comprehensive back office solutions that go into our client sites and do the work to give them the capacity they need in order to move through transitions, whether that's planned or unplanned, or companies also work with our accounting and finance back office solutions, human resources.

Technology and administration. The reason why our back office solutions add value is because we save them time and money anywhere from [00:20:00] 20 to 30% of what they would spend on that back office solution. We work in it so they can actually work on it CXOR e.com and contact me directly at D-T-E-A-T. At CXO e.com.

Jeff Holden: If you're interested in learning more about how CORE may help your organization, visit CXOR e.com. 

scott Thomas: Hello, this is Scott Thomas with CAPTRUST in our Sacramento office. I specialize in working with local nonprofits and associations annually. We survey private and public nonprofit organizations across the country to better understand challenges they see in today's environment.

In our more recent survey, we heard concerns about proper board governance, mission aligned investment, and how to implement alternative investments. If you would like a copy of the survey or to discuss your organization, look me up, scottThomas@captrust.com. 

Jeff Holden: At Western Health Advantage. Healthcare isn't [00:21:00] just a service, it's a shared value.

As a nonprofit leader, you need a health plan that understands the importance of mission-driven work. Western Health Advantage is a local not-for-profit health plan that supports organizations like yours with affordable, flexible coverage options for your team. But what truly sets them apart is their commitment to community supporting nonprofits like the American Heart Association, Sacramento Ballet, and the Crocker Art Museums.

Pay what you Wish Sundays with access to top tier providers and dedicated local support. Western Health Advantage is more than a health plan. It's a partner in your purpose. Explore your options today@westernhealth.com. Western Health Advantage Healthcare with Heart, designed for those who give back. As a, as a former board member, Jerry, we, I too have been on, on many boards.

This is always our greatest challenge. You know, it's the [00:22:00] development side of things. What's your perspective on it? 

Jerry Alestra: Well, there was a lot to learn on the board. 'cause I've never been on a board prior to that. I was kind of tricked by Mike Gannon, if he's listening to this coach, uh, he said, yeah, come on over.

Uh, it's great. It's easy. And, and then next thing you know, I'm on the board. But it's been a. A life changing experience because you see how much you have to coordinate with other companies to raise funds, to do the events, to reach out, create programs. One of the biggest things I saw on the board was how do we allocate that?

We're always looking the future. How do we provide for the people that really. Need a place to stay, especially during a serious illness. How do we forecast building a new building? That was part of the thing we got to deal with when I was on the board. How do we enhance the barbecue area, you know, add different things to keep it refreshed.

So it was tremendous work and that's where Stacy's group and [00:23:00] team comes in. Of course, the volunteers and subcommittees, their subcommittees and, and it's just. At first you look at it and you're like, okay, it's a board. However, there's so much more to it and it, it really provides a deep gratitude personally, as you are pouring into your community, giving back.

We do commit to give back regardless. Especially, I always commit back to the Clays tournament. That's one of my favorites 'cause that's what we kind of help out from Southwest Airlines. But it is a family too. And what's what's really neat about it, we have collaboration. We may disagree on some things, but the more people you have in there thinking, how can we protect the families here?

How can we protect our community? How can we give back? It's really remarkable. 

Jeff Holden: Mm-hmm. Great explanation. Thank you. Appreciate that. One of my favorite questions that I get to ask of anybody seeing in that chair, Stacy, is dream big. 

Stacey Hodge: Okay? 

Jeff Holden: If money's no object, what would it [00:24:00] look like? What would the organization look like?

Stacey Hodge: So what it would look like is never having to turn a family away. And again, we, it's generally on a waiting list for just a couple nights, but always have an having availability. All the time. So there's always a place for a family to stay. Right now we're impacted, like I said, we're full most nights, so that's a challenge.

And on the property we sit on, we could potentially add more rooms. We did do. An expansion about 10 years ago. So it's, it's something we, we always keep in our back pocket is when is it gonna be time to expand? And, and that would be the launch of a new capital campaign. And, but something definitely on the horizon 

Jeff Holden: wouldn't need a capital campaign.

If you had that blank check. Somebody's just sitting here saying, let's go. 

Stacey Hodge: Exactly. 

Jeff Holden: Let's get it started. 

Stacey Hodge: Would 

well 

Jerry Alestra: tell us a name, 

Jeff Holden: right? Ask, this is out in the ether, so it's like Right on. Whoever that might be. What number do you think? [00:25:00] Would be an appropriate number because you've been there long enough to see the ebb and flow of dynamic.

You've, you've had a, a second construction phase, now you're full basically all the time. We're growing, the community's growing. What does that number look like? What do you think? If you've got 39 today, is it, is it. 50, another 10 helps. 12. 

Stacey Hodge: Yeah. I, I would think at least 10, 15 more bedrooms, at least. There are options to put family rooms inside hospitals and that could alleviate a little bit of that.

The pressure for the available rooms. Having the day use program also makes a difference for families. Mm-hmm. And because some, some of the families are bedside and want to be bedside. 

scott Thomas: Sure. 

Stacey Hodge: And. Although when they do come to the Ronald McDonald House, they do get that respite from the hospital. If even if it's just to grab a quick meal, take a nap, take a shower, and they're back to the hospital.

Mm-hmm. And that's pretty common actually. But the other thing that happens [00:26:00] is you bond with other families that are there. So you meet. Other families, you're sharing a lot of facilities and so you get to know them and we see a lot of friendships develop as a result of, of families being there. And so a lot of times when they return, they tell us they're still staying in touch with families that they met last time they were staying with us.

So that's like a little added value to it. 

Jeff Holden: Yeah. That's great to hear. And it's those shared experiences. In trauma, especially where the bonds tend to be deeper. 

Stacey Hodge: Yeah. 

Jeff Holden: And as those children grow up together, depending on the ages, if they were close. All of a sudden now you've got a true familial relationship between different parties 

Stacey Hodge: Yes.

Jeff Holden: And kids that maybe have, you know, kindred spirits in some way, shape or form. Not to mention siblings and, and what all that looks like. I saw a lot of other children running around when we were there. 

Stacey Hodge: Yes. 

Jeff Holden: And, and wondering, well, wait, what's all that? You know, where are they all? Well, they're the siblings of 

Stacey Hodge: Yes.

Yes. And 

Jeff Holden: they were having a ball. Yes. It's obviously what kids need. You know, they don't need to be bearing the [00:27:00] burden of a, you know, a, a sick sibling or a, a sibling that's got a, a disease or an accident or whatever the case may be. As you look at the, the next steps coming out of the, the, the dream state into the reality of it all, what is the greatest need that you've got?

Stacey Hodge: I would say probably. It would fall under dollars for sure, because all the dollars that go into our program go directly to the, the children and families that we serve, both at the house and the camp. Our overhead is just 3%, so 97 cents for every single dollar that we raise goes back into our programs.

Mm-hmm. We are very frugal and make sure that we wanna steward our donor dollars appropriately. I would say for people that want to help that we always have ongoing wishlists on our website in addition to a way that they can donate dollars. But we have a ton of wishlist needs because we go through just so many [00:28:00] snacks and things that families request from microwave popcorn to canned goods to batteries.

And we also have a cart with a heart, which is our hospitality cart that's in the hospital. And what we do there is we are on the pediatric floors and we go room to room offering drinks and snacks and activities for families that can't get out of the hospital room. And so we are always going through a ton of individually wrapped snacks and.

Drinks and little bottled waters and small juices and things like that. So all that we update on our website on a regular basis. And I would say those are probably our two biggest needs. 

Jeff Holden: I love Cart with a heart. 

Jerry Alestra: I do too. Yeah. Got to know him really well. 

Stacey Hodge: Oh yeah. 

Jeff Holden: And, and, and we'll get there. And Jerry, from your perspective, again, board member perspective, budget funding, we're always dealing with that.

It's always part of the equation. How did that look like from a board perspective as as you go through it? 

Jerry Alestra: That was a great question. [00:29:00] I think what helped me is I was part of the Chamber of Commerce. In the Sacramento region, whether it was the Hispanic or whether it was the Sac Chamber, Metro. Yeah, yeah.

Metro. And you get those connections. And of course when you're on the board, all you want to talk about is what the house is doing. And Camp Ronald McDonald. 'cause sometimes they hear about Ronald McDonald House. Mm-hmm. But I would really push people and um, tell 'em to come out, check it out. I would also say if you got any information, contact Stacy, uh, she'll be able to give you all the details.

However, from that aspect, I think that gave me more access to people to really tell the story, to really give them the, the what we're doing, what we're trying to do in this community, and that's how you draw those people in. So it was really neat. Now, Southwest Airlines, they actually support the Ronald McDonald House charities from a national standpoint.

And so that was the opportunity to connect with people in different cities that may be moving here too. I get transfers. I got in-flight people that live in Sacramento, but they're based in a different city. [00:30:00] I would get emails, do you have a Ronald McDonald House? So the, it's the connections and then the word of mouth gets out.

Jeff Holden: Mm-hmm. Yeah. It's great that you have that national perspective platform, because there are so many. Ronald McDonald, how many are there in the country, do you know? 

Stacey Hodge: I don't know. 

Jeff Holden: Oh 

Stacey Hodge: man. We'll 

Jeff Holden: have to look that up. 

Stacey Hodge: And we're international and so I think, oh wow. There's, yeah, over 300 chapters worldwide. But generally I tell people if there's a children's hospital in any town or city, there's normally a around McDonald House nearby.

Jeff Holden: And in terms of the actual employees for the house, including the camp and everything, how many employees are there? 

Stacey Hodge: We have 13 full-time employees. 

Jeff Holden: That's it. 

Stacey Hodge: Yeah. That's it. 

Jeff Holden: How does the rest of the work get done? Is it all volunteer? 

Stacey Hodge: Great question. We do have a ton of volunteers, and I'll tell you, they are the heartbeat of this charity and they do everything from, we have ongoing daily volunteers that help with checking families in getting things that families need.

We have cookie brigade, [00:31:00] which are our volunteers that come in five days a week and bake cookies for our families. So they always have fresh baked cookies. Where 

Jeff Holden: were those when we were taking our chili, not eating fresh baked cookies anywhere. 

Stacey Hodge: We gotta keep our cookie jars full. That's, but they, we do go through a lot of cookies and so our volunteers also help with events.

They help with our yard work. We have monthly work parties where folks come in the first Saturday of every month and they help with our gardening and getting our cobwebs out from underneath the eaves. Mm-hmm. And all those kinds of things that, that need to be done and really help us keep our overhead low.

Jeff Holden: What's the budget you work with? What's a rough annual budget? 

Stacey Hodge: We're about 2.5 million. 

Jeff Holden: Okay. That, that's a significant operation. 

Stacey Hodge: Yeah. 

Jeff Holden: Mm-hmm. So it's, there's a lot going on there. 

Stacey Hodge: There's a lot going on. Yep. Yeah. 

Jeff Holden: We're going to talk about something that, that's gonna be very personal. Jerry, you, you're here for multiple reasons, right?

You have experienced the Ronald McDonald House personally. Would [00:32:00] you share with us what. Your experience was 

Jerry Alestra: absolutely. What's interesting is my kids volunteered at camp and they were very interactive at the house. When we had the barbecues, they would, uh, play with the kids there. And so my youngest son, Aaron Ra and his wife Taylor, they were pregnant.

It was a real joyous time up to the birth and Eliana. Ooh, your granddaughter? My granddaughter, yeah. She had some complications. With her heart and and lungs. And so there were many surgeries and procedures. There was many times we prepared for the worst as a family. 

Darrell Teat: Mm-hmm. 

Jerry Alestra: And so this experience, that's why I said that in the one comment, there's two sides of this coin and you never really know until you experience both.

So it was a traumatic time. Lot of [00:33:00] unknowns. 

Jeff Holden: So you've got your granddaughter born with multiple complications. Heart. Yes. How did you interact then with the home, with the Ronald McDonald House? 

Jerry Alestra: Well, that is a great question. A fantastic question. Absolutely. When you're in the motion of this and you're dealing with the different scenarios, you're trying to support your, your son and your daughter-in-law, she's my daughter, that when you're there, in the experience of the hospital, and first of all, Sutter PICU is.

Beyond awesome. You get to know the people very well. You get to know the security very well, so. You get to know the people in the hospital during that time? I was not thinking about that at all. A former board member, somebody who knows the Ronald McDonald House, Northern California very well, I didn't think about it.

Darrell Teat: Mm-hmm. 

Jerry Alestra: Which I'm a little bit ashamed 'cause I had a, I had a text, uh, Catherine, and I learned a, just to let you know, uh, my son and daughter, uh, applied for, uh, to stay there. So I didn't find out. I found out through my son. [00:34:00] So he told me, Hey, we applied for that. And I was like, oh my goodness, I didn't even think about that.

'cause we're spending hours and days there. We wouldn't see them at all. We spent a lot of time there. 

Darrell Teat: Mm-hmm. 

Jerry Alestra: So that's how we found out as my son applied. And I was just thinking what. It can happen to anybody. You can, it could be somebody on the board again, where they have a, a emergency, a tragedy, or something within their family and they're just reacting.

Jeff Holden: Mm-hmm. 

Jerry Alestra: And they're trying to contain the emotions to have better judgment, better conversations. So I was actually my son and my daughter-in-law that applied 

Jeff Holden: and, and tell us about their experience. 

Jerry Alestra: Well, their experience, looking from my eyes. Their first child. 

Jeff Holden: Mm-hmm. 

Jerry Alestra: It was supposed to be a time of bringing a child home.

This did not occur. For 287 days and [00:35:00] from, they didn't know. They went through different stages. The first stage is shock. There was a, there was a lot of shock in our family. There was a lot of praying. There's desperation. Mm-hmm. You know, when you have a doctor or a surgeon tell you, we're not sure. I learned through this experience not to deal with percentages.

And because obviously Eliana beat those percentages. 

Jeff Holden: Mm-hmm. 

Jerry Alestra: So there was a lot of hardship on him. Not only financially because my son is ex Sac State and college, he was trying to finish up his second semester to the last, I think, something like that. I can't keep track. And Taylor couldn't work. She had to be at the hospital for her daughter spending the night and the hours there and.

I really don't know what they, they felt. Mm-hmm. I, I don't know if I could handle it. It, if it affects you deeply to the core, to the root. [00:36:00] 

Jeff Holden: And this provides that opportunity to take some of that burden off. It's one less thing you have to worry about because everybody can participate. Right? 

Stacey Hodge: Right.

Jeff Holden: Everybody can stay at the home and stay close knowing where the hospital is, relationship to, to assuming it's downtown sut. 

Jerry Alestra: Yes. It's actually really close. It's a few blocks away. 

Jeff Holden: Right. 

Jerry Alestra: And it was a relief because they got up in as soon as they could and to be five minutes, 10 minutes away, have that call.

You need to come in, they're there. Mm-hmm. And it is a lifeline. 

Jeff Holden: Mm-hmm. 

Jerry Alestra: The Ronald McDonald House, there is a lifeline to families. We're going by minutes, not hours or days by minutes. And to have that functionality to stay at the house versus our home in Lincoln, could be a 40 minute drive, could be longer there, instant access.

Darrell Teat: Mm-hmm. 

Jerry Alestra: And that is the greatest gift, Stacey, you and the charity have [00:37:00] given to my family. And so during that time, you, you learn a lot. I'm not a medical person, my wife is, but I'm highly impressed with Taylor and Erin because they're very young, yet they are so mature in how they handled this. They asked questions, they sought help.

They would reach out to us, they reach out to other family members. And then of course, like Stacey was saying, they would just go there and take a shower sometimes. 

Darrell Teat: Mm-hmm. 

Jerry Alestra: And then come back. So. From their standpoint, it was a lifeline, a critical lifeline for them. 

Jeff Holden: And to your point earlier, Stacy, where you were saying this is for anybody.

Stacey Hodge: Absolutely. 

Jeff Holden: Yeah. You know, as the need presents itself, but to think of a couple of students, assuming your daughter-in-law's, a student as well, if not still, they're young. 

Stacey Hodge: Mm-hmm. [00:38:00] 

Jeff Holden: They don't have the means to. Hole up in a, in a hotel or, or burden the expense. They can't sleep in the hospital overnight. They have to have a facility.

And to your point, heading out to Lincoln Jerry, that they, that's an hour of angst that you'd be away from your child not knowing what's going on. 

Jerry Alestra: That's right. Mm-hmm. 

Jeff Holden: So here's a perfect example of an unbeknownst opportunity that presented itself. I, I, the only word appropriate is, is coincidence. But there are no coincidences.

These things happen for a reason. 

Jerry Alestra: That's right. 

Jeff Holden: And you had that familiarity and you actually got to see in your own family the use of your efforts as a board member. To come to fruition. 

Jerry Alestra: It's very humbling. 

Jeff Holden: Yeah, 

Jerry Alestra: very humbling. The definition of humbling doesn't really reach the depths of words that you can express is very humbling.

Jeff Holden: And the willingness to accept it too. I, I think that's important [00:39:00] because there are people who could use the facility that maybe feel really awkward or uncomfortable about it and don't, it's there for that purpose. That's why it's there. And if the opportunity's there, you're gonna be serviced. And it's the, you know, the right thing.

And if you need to wait a day or two, you have to wait a day or two. It, it just 

Stacey Hodge: Exactly. Yeah. 

Jeff Holden: It just is what it is. But thank you for sharing that. Now I, I have to ask 

Jerry Alestra: Sure. 

Jeff Holden: How long ago was that? 

Jerry Alestra: Oh man. So. That's a, I think it was last, let's see, we, it was last year, 

Jeff Holden: so, so not that long. So yeah, 

Jerry Alestra: it was, last 

Jeff Holden: year was like two, 

Jerry Alestra: I had to rewind it.

Yeah. 

Jeff Holden: She's two years old now. 

Jerry Alestra: No, she's, she just turned one in June. 

Jeff Holden: Okay, okay. 

Jerry Alestra: One in June. 

Jeff Holden: There we go. 

Jerry Alestra: And so, yes, it, it started last year. 

Jeff Holden: Well, I'm, I'm thrilled. You are a grandfather. You've, 

Jerry Alestra: thank you very 

Jeff Holden: much. Got Ana with a story to tell. 

Jerry Alestra: Huge story and a, a miracle. 

Jeff Holden: We'll see what she grows up to be. If she's a, uh, cheeseburger, [00:40:00] fries, and chocolate shake, or 

Jerry Alestra: I'm sure she'll be at the house volunteering, 

Jeff Holden: which Happy meal she prefers too.

Right, right. Stacey, what you do is, is stressful. And I know when we were talking, it's hard not to take it home. 

Stacey Hodge: Yeah. 

Jeff Holden: I mean, there's, these are kids. I mean, you're in the space where kids thrive and so you see the healthy siblings and you see the, the, the child that's needing care. How do you not take it home?

What do you do for fun? How do you relax? 

Stacey Hodge: Well, sometimes you do take it home, right? And so, yeah, so things that, that I do with my husband. We have a boat. And that takes a lot of time. It's a nice book. And then we have a fifth wheel, so we camp a lot too. So we're outdoors a lot. And then my husband has this very interesting hobby of collecting tequila, so I tag along with that hobby and it is a lot of fun.

So we keep pretty busy. And then we have grandkids and kids, so never a dull moment. [00:41:00] 

Jeff Holden: Good, good. 

Stacey Hodge: Yeah. 

Jeff Holden: Well, and And outdoor nature. What a great way to escape from the pressures of. Human-centric conditions. 

Stacey Hodge: Yeah, exactly. 

Jeff Holden: You know, you just don't have to deal with any of that. What's the best way to learn more about the organization?

Stacey Hodge: So I would say go to our website, which is r mhc nc.org. And there we constantly update our events that are coming up, how you can volunteer, how you can donate when the next work party is, where our needs are the greatest, and it's updated on a regular basis. So I encourage folks to go to our website.

Jeff Holden: RMHC. Nc nc. So Ronald McDonald House. 

Stacey Hodge: Charities. 

Jeff Holden: Charities. Northern, Northern California. 

Stacey Hodge: Yeah. 

Jeff Holden: Okay. Dot org. 

Stacey Hodge: Yeah. 

Jeff Holden: Everyone, even if you don't have children, and I mean, everyone knows McDonald's. 

Stacey Hodge: Yeah. 

Jeff Holden: We've all grown up with it [00:42:00] started back in what the, the fifties? 

Stacey Hodge: Yeah. 

Jeff Holden: You know, with, with milkshakes and stuff, if anybody's seen or watched the story, it's an incredible story.

I am a fry freak. They are still one of my favorites. Extra salt. I agree, please. Always two packets and not everyone sees the community resource that your franchisees are. I don't think they get the credit for what they do because not only do they give a percentage to the house from their sales, but they are big community advocates.

They contribute a lot in the community. With their stores, whatever that particular area is that they serve. So this is above and beyond for them? Absolutely. And I know they really. Value it because of the service that it provides, but you're making it possible for children and families to get the need and care that they may not otherwise be able to do in a timing and a situation where it may be necessary.

And in some cases it could be catastrophic to a [00:43:00] family in terms of the expense that they would have to invest to do what they need to do just to be by their child. And nobody wants to be separated. Separated from their child when their child is ill or needs right. You know, needs, needs, medical care. So what a, what a treasure it is to have somebody like you.

So passionate, so committed, almost 30 years. Think about that. 

Stacey Hodge: Yeah. 

Jeff Holden: That's a long time. 

Stacey Hodge: I know. 

Jeff Holden: It's scary. It's scary. But to, to just stay so focused on the mission for the duration, the equity that you bring to the experiential equity that you bring to the organization is really significant. And the ability to share that with the community, as I know you probably go out to the rotaries and the, you know, the, the, the civic and service organizations, right, right.

And, and Kiwanis, et cetera, et cetera. So thank you for, for what you do with all that. You know, for the, for the people that are in, you mentioned it early on, Jerry, desperate. 

Jerry Alestra: Yes. 

Jeff Holden: It becomes a desperate situation. Mm-hmm. Sometimes to where, when you don't see there's [00:44:00] hope. 

scott Thomas: Mm-hmm. 

Jeff Holden: It really gets bleak and it's just that little glimmer that all of a sudden, wait, we have a place to stay.

Okay. We worry about now we don't, we don't have to worry about that. We'll worry about everything else that we have to really stay focused on for child and family and, and siblings. If the case may be. So thank you for that. Jerry, thank you so much for, for sharing the story. I, I really appreciate what you guys do and if everybody, as you listen and you get an opportunity to go to the Ronald McDonald Hall, it really is an experience to see not only the walls of support that you have in the lobby when you go in and you recognize a lot of names in our community.

Stacey Hodge: Yeah. 

Jeff Holden: But to see what's happening on the campus and how comfortable and stress-free it feels. When you are there and, and I'm, I, I have to do this 'cause I, I, I'm trying ba ba

Jerry Alestra: Well, that's right. 

Jeff Holden: Thank you guys. I appreciate it. 

Stacey Hodge: Thank you. Thank you. Thank you [00:45:00] very much. We appreciate it. 

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