Starting Tuesday, 69 McDonald's restaurants in the Ozarks will begin encouraging customers to support Springfield's two Ronald McDonald Houses by donating $1, $5 or $20 and adopting a heart. With every heart adopted, the contributor will have an opportunity to enter a social media contest holding their signed heart saying "I shared my heart #for RMHCozarks" for a chance to win one of four $250 Great Southern MasterCard gift cards. For 35 days, this wonderful support will be evident with supporters sharing their hearts on social media. Over 40 mayors in the participating region are being asked to support the campaign by proclaiming February 14-20, Ronald McDonald House Week in their towns. McDonald's of Salem will proudly participate in the Share a Heart Campaign.
On any given night, up to 24 families of seriously ill children are staying at Springfield's two Ronald McDonald Houses. The Ronald McDonald House near Cox South Hospital has 14 bedrooms and has been welcoming families for nearly 33 years: and the 10-bedroom Ronald McDonald House at Mercy Kids has been helping families for eight years. In a typical year, more than 800 families found a "home-away-from home," hope and comfort at Springfield's Ronald McDonald Houses, including those receiving daytime-only accommodations. Thanks to the generosity of the Ozarks, families receive home-cooked meals through the organization's Family Dinner Program, laundry facilities, transportation to hospitals, and support from volunteers and staff who truly care. The most needed and appreciated benefit is shared between families as they encourage one another and share a true understanding of having an ill or injured child.
