Vo l u n t e e r S e rv i c e sFa m i ly Meal Pro gram G u i d e l i n e s

Dear Friends,

Thank you for your interest in providing meals for families staying at theRonald McDonald House®. Here, families find the comforts of home, includingmeals provided by volunteers and emotional support through contact with families in similar situations.The Fa m i ly Meal pro gram provides a much neededservice to families of very ill children during their most difficult days.This valued service would not be possible without the help of friends like you.

This program is for groups with a maximum of 10 volunteers at the GatewoodHouse and 6 vo l u n t e e rs at the Pe a c h t ree Dunwoody House.The time commitmentis usually 3–4 hours. Unfortunately we don’t have space to accommodate largergroups. Please consider breaking large groups into several smaller groups.Theminimum age to volunteer is 9 years old.

All volunteers under 18 years old require a chaperone.The Board of Healthencourages us to have all meals prepared in our House whenever possible. Foodprepared in commercial cooking establishments such as restaurants, cateringservices or cafeterias and then brought in or delivered is acceptable.

When visiting the House there are a number of safety precautions to keepin mind. For the welfare of the families we ask that you do not visit if you arec o u g h i n g , feve ri s h , h ave a ru n ny nose or have been exposed to a contagi o u sdisease. Some children are in isolation and their immune suppressed bodies cannot fight even the simplest of colds.To prevent the spread of bacteria andinfections, gloves are provided for all visitors, and we ask that you wear them while preparing food and wash your hands often.

Volunteering at the Ronald McDonald House is a rewarding experience.Coming home from the hospital to a freshly prepared meal, made by people who care is a real gift to our families.Thank you for making a difference.

Sincerely,

Atlanta Ronald McDonald House CharitiesVolunteer Services

AT L A N TA RO NA L D MCDO NA L D HO U S E CH A R I T I E S

Fa m i ly Meal P ro g r a mVarious groups including families, individuals, co-workers, classmates, church members and clubs prepareand serve dinner each evening for the guests at our two Atlanta Ronald McDonald Houses. Evening mealsand weekend brunches are needed year round.

You may provide meals as often as your schedule permits: one time, once a month, once a year or asoften as you wish. The Family Meal Program is important because these families don�t have the extratime, resources or energy to prepare or purchase a meal.

Serving Requirements:

If providing a dinner at the Gatewood Ronald McDonald House, you will purchase and prepareenough food for 50 to 65 people Monday–Thursday, 30 to 45 Friday–Sunday and 30 for brunch.

If providing a dinner at the Peachtree Dunwoody Ronald McDonald House, you will purchase andprepare enough food for 20 people Monday–Thursday, 10–15 Friday—Sunday and 10 for brunch.

Please note serving size can vary due to House occupancy.

C a s s e ro l e C l u bThe Casserole Club is an extension of our Family Meal Program, designed to include the many indi-vidual volunteers interested in helping to provide meals for the families. We ask that you come intoone of our Houses to prepare the casseroles. Volunteers will be responsible for bringing ingredientsto make the casseroles and a disposable 9 x 13 oven safe pan for storing. Casseroles are stored inthe freezer and taken out as needed. Cassarole Club is available Monday—Friday at 10am or 2pm.

B a ke r ’s C l u bEveryone enjoys homemade sweets now and then! Our families appreciate it when bakers come intoone of our Houses to bake cookies, brownies, cupcakes, etc. Volunteers will be responsible forbringing ingredients to make the sweet treats. This service can include individuals or groups.Baker�s Club is available Monday—Friday at 10am or 2pm.

B re a k fa s t C l u bBreakfast is the most important meal of the day! Our families enjoy having milk, orange juice, applejuice, sausage, bacon, eggs, bagels & cream cheese, pop tarts and cereals to choose from eachmorning. You can schedule a morning to prepare breakfast in the House kitchen, drop off freshbreakfast items for our families to enjoy or donate breakfast items to the House pantry.

To schedule a volunteer activity or for more information please contact:

Gatewood Volunteer Services Peachtree Dunwoody Volunteer Services6 7 8 . 7 0 4 . 8 0 9 8 4 0 4 . 8 4 7 . 0 7 6 0

VO L U N T E E R SE RV I C E S FA M I LY ME A L PRO G R A M GU I D E L I N E S

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Meal Donation G u i d e l i n e s~ A complete meal includes a meat dish, vegetarian dish, vegetable or fruit and dessert

~ When providing a salad, prepare enough for approximately half the total number of people listedunder Serving Requirements. Please do not mix salad toppings or dressing in the salad.

~ Brunch is served at 10AM. Dinner is served between 6PM and 6:30PM.

~ Please limit your group size to no more than 10 volunteers at Gatewood Ronald McDonaldHouse or 6 at Peachtree Dunwoody Ronald McDonald House.

~ Children under the age of 9 are not allowed to participate in the Family Meal Program.

~ Come as early as you need to prepare your meal in our large, fully-equipped kitchen. Please notify staff when you arrive so you can bring your food and supplies through the kitchen arearather than the main entrance.

~ Most cooking utensils and equipment are provided (pots, pans, large spoons, etc).

~ Bring any special equipment needed.

~ Plates, silverware and glasses are provided, but you may bring paper products for easier cleanup.

~ Tea and coffee are provided; please bring other types of drinks you plan to serve with your meal.

~ We ask that you set the meal out on the serving counter.

~ Once guest families have helped themselves, your volunteer group may also go through the lineand stay to eat and visit with the families.

~ Clean up begins 45 minutes to 1 hour after serving time.

~ Place all dishes in the dishwashers and run dishwashers if they are full.

~ Place all leftovers in sealed containers, label with food item and date and place in refrigerator.Feel free to bring additional storage containers for our Houses to use and keep.

~ Place all garbage in trash receptacles and recycling in the recycling bins.

Meal service for the families is usually a 2–4 hour time commitment

depending on your meal.Volunteer services requests that you submit your menu

two weeks prior to your scheduled meal.

Please contact us in advance if you are not able to keep your commitment.

Remember, the families count on you.

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AT L A N TA RO NA L D MCDO NA L D HO U S E CH A R I T I E S

M e nuS u g g e s t i o n sBrunch Ideas

Breakfast Casseroles or quiches

Eggs

Bacon or sausage

Pancakes, waffles or french toast

Bagels and cream cheese

Muffins, biscuits or croissants

Fruit salad

Grits

Chicken or tuna salad

Meat Dish IdeasBeef and noodles/stroganoff

Sloppy joes

BBQ chicken, beef or pork

Stir fry

Tuna, chicken or beef casseroles

Beef, chicken or turkey chili

Homemade soups

Sub sandwiches

Baked ham, turkey, pork or chicken

Rotisserie chicken

Pizza

Taco bar, taco salads, burritos, enchiladasor any other Mexican dish

Grilled hamburger, hotdogs or shish kabobs

Fried chicken or chicken fingers

Pastas with meat sauce and meatballs

Fish sticks or fillets

VO L U N T E E R SE RV I C E S FA M I LY ME A L PRO G R A M GU I D E L I N E S

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Breakfast for dinner

S i d e sFresh vegetables

Veggie casseroles

Veggie stir fry

Homemade soups

Pastas

Salads

Coleslaw

Vegetable medley

Baked potato

Stuffing

Macaroni and cheese

Rice or rice pilaf

Potato or pasta salad

Bread/rolls/biscuits/cornbread

Corn on the cob

Atlanta Ronald McDonald House Chari t i e s795 Ga t ewood Road, NE • Atlanta, GA 30329

4 0 4 .315 .1133 • FA X 4 0 4 .315 . 7 8 7 3w w w. a rm h c . o r g