Your Stay
At the House
Our home is filled with more than just help, it’s filled with hope
Referrals
Referrals for stays at the Ronald McDonald House are made through the social workers at the Omaha area hospitals where the patient is receiving treatment.
A referral is not a “reservation” and does not guarantee availability of rooms. To be eligible, a family must live 35 or more miles from the House. Please discuss this with a social worker or case manager if you are interested in accessing RMHC services.
Submit A Request To Stay
Virtual Tour
Welcome to the virtual tour of our Home. Come on in and take a look around. If you have questions or would like to learn more, please contact us at 402-346-9377.
Check In
All adults staying in the room should present their photo ID and complete the registration process prior to being shown to their room. New families will receive a tour of the House upon check-in.
We encourage guest families to make a $20 donation per night. However, if a donation cannot be made, families can still access RMHC services.
Housekeeping
The Ronald McDonald House does not have a housekeeping department. All families are required to clean and maintain their rooms on a regular basis.
The expectations and House rules are explained when the family checks in.
Check Out
Guests must clean their room before checking out. A checklist of the tasks that should be completed will be given to the families prior to check out. Those tasks include vacuuming and dusting the room, washing the towels and sheets, cleaning the bathrooms and emptying the wastebaskets.
Guests are required to come to the front office when they are ready to check out. Room keys must be returned to the front desk. If keys are lost, there will be a $25 charge for replacement of each.
FAQs
1. WHO CAN STAY AT THE RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE?
The families of seriously ill or injured children who are receiving treatment in an Omaha-area hospital. The family must also reside more than 35 miles from the House (620 S. 38th Ave., Omaha, NE 68105).
2. HOW DO I GET A ROOM AT THE HOUSE?
A social worker or medical staff member at the facility where the child is being treated must make the referral directly to the House. All adults staying in the House must present current photo identification at check-in. We cannot guarantee placement until the day of need, but we will place families on a waiting list if the House is at full occupancy. Ronald McDonald House Charities in Omaha reserves the right to verify the child’s treatment with the medical service provider. You can submit a request by clicking here.
3. HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?
It costs approximately $120 to operate each of the 40 guest rooms at the House. We ask families to donate $20 per night per family; however, no one is turned away if they are unable to donate. Lodging, volunteer-prepared meals, laundry facilities, transportation to/from the hospital (within certain hours) and other services are included. If a family is Medicaid-eligible, Medicaid will often cover your stay.
4. WHAT ARE THE HOURS OF THE RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE?
The House is accessible to families 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The office is staffed 24 hours a day.
5. HOW BIG IS THE RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE?
The Ronald McDonald House can accommodate 40 families each night in private suites. Each family has a private room, which includes a bathroom. The house also includes a large kitchen, pantry, several family rooms, a teen room, a laundry room on each floor, a salon, a linen closet, a backyard, and a community center.
6. ARE MEALS PROVIDED?
Volunteers provide dinner for our families on nearly a daily basis. Families also have 24-hour access to the House pantry which is stocked with canned goods, breakfast items and other non-perishable food items donated by our generous community of supporters.
7. HOW LONG DO FAMILIES STAY AT THE RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE OF OMAHA?
A family’s length of stay cannot exceed 15 months. The RMHC in Omaha Board of Directors may grant an extension. The appeal will be considered if it is determined that the health issues of the patient will be resolved within a short time frame. The request for an extension must be written by the parents. This should be accompanied by a statement from the child’s primary physician indicating the estimated length of recovery. A family whose length of stay has expired may reapply for admission if such request is made after the family and patient has returned to their permanent residence and the patient has been released from the current medical situation by a physician.
8. WHAT IS THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MCDONALD’S AND RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE CHARITIES OF OMAHA?
While McDonald’s the corporation is the founding mission partner of RMHC, RMHC in Omaha is neither owned nor fully funded by McDonald’s. Local McDonald’s owner/operators decide the level of support that they chose to provide the House. Several owner/operators and McDonald’s corporate employees volunteer as members of our Board or serve as guest services or meal volunteers. McDonald’s customers show their support by donating change in the restaurant donation canisters.
9. HOW IS RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE CHARITIES OF OMAHA FUNDED?
Ronald McDonald House Charities in Omaha is solely operated with funds raised through donations made by individuals, organizations, and corporations in the communities we serve. All the money raised in Omaha stays in Omaha.
10. HOW CAN I SUPPORT RMHC OMAHA?
By donating. We could not operate without generous donations from our community. While we ask families to contribute $20 per night for their stay, no family is ever turned away for inability to pay. It costs us $120 per night to provide a room for a family. Your donations help bridge that gap.
By volunteering. Our volunteers are the heart and soul of the House – and the reason we accomplish so much with such a small staff. Come join us!
