“Built with love”, the Ronald McDonald House of Durham and Wake (RMH) offers a comforting “home-away-from-home” and a community of support for seriously ill children and their families.  Serving Durham, Chapel Hill, and Wake Medical, the house stays at full capacity 365 days a year.

 

More than twenty years ago, the Kiwanis Club of the Friendly City- Durham began preparing meals for guests at RMH once a month. That commitment still stands, and one of those Kiwanis members continues to serve, both the meals and as a board member.

 

Guy Guidry participated in Kiwanis from college graduation through retirement from a career with Wells Fargo. RMH had been one of his clients and a focus of the Kiwanis. After retirement, Guy joined the RMH board, assuming responsibilities of governance and building and facilities. He assisted in fundraising for a $6+ million addition, successfully doubling the size/capacity of the Durham House.  Guy currently serves on the RMH Board as well as the Finance Committee, and he continues to prepare and serve about 50 meals once a month.

 

With covid came change. “During the pandemic, the meals were still needed, but many participants were unable to continue helping.” Guy, his wife Betty Ann, and Edith Rosenblatt, an original RMH board member, partnered together following the stricter regulations. “The new regulations helped the process, keeping the food preparation and service safer for families. We continue gloving and masks, boxing and labeling all meals, and placing them in the dining room for families to self-serve.”

 

“These families need a place to stay while their children receive long-term care, treatments, bone marrow transplants, and stem cell transplants. Without RMH, the expenses of lodging and food could leave parents sleeping in waiting rooms, eating from vending machines, or unable to be with their children. When the families return to the house, often late at night, they know the to-go boxes in the refrigerator are ready to microwave. They have a healthy meal before they go to bed." Guy adds, “At the end of the day, there is no better reward than that.”

 

RMH now also provides a family dayroom at the hospital near the pediatric ICU. Guy says, “Parents don’t want to leave their children in the ICU alone. This intermediate step provides daily comfort for those who can’t or don’t want to leave during the day. Parents can get snacks, wash clothes, and shower. It serves 100s of people each week.”

 

Guy credits numerous people for the success of the Durham house. “Founding board members, Edith Rosenblatt, Barbara Yowell, Dr. John Faletta, and others saw the need for the house and had a vision for what it could offer. They devoted time and effort to direct the development of the house into what it is today. Oie Osterkamp, the house’s Executive Director, has really brought the house to a new level.”

 

Barbara and Bob Yowell were instrumental in involving another neighbor in the mission of the house, inviting Art Pappas to many RMH events. He became more familiar with RMH and its mission. He began making regular visits to Duke Children’s Hospital and RMH with his therapy-dog-trained Golden Retriever, named Lily.  Art helped establish the Canine Comfort program bringing therapy dogs into the house in support of children and parents.   “During those visits, I met with staff, volunteers, and members of the Durham board. This ultimately led to an invitation to join the RMH board.” Art served from 2006-2012 and again in 2018.” 

 

Art’s company, Pappas Capital, made RMH one of its major community charities. “Our entire team is actively involved. We support the finance committee and participate in all fundraising activities. We have many team events at the RMH, and we work with the parents in cooking and other social events.  Pappas Capital provides tickets to DPAC and to Duke Basketball and Football games.” Art adds, “My CFO Matt Boyer and I wear our Red Shoe Society sneakers proudly.”

 

“Ronald McDonald House is an important charity, a vital community platform that helps families, patients of need, and physicians providing care. The House is a haven for many families without alternative bases while their children need care. When RMH’s mission becomes one’s charitable giving mission, it becomes part of your heart and soul.”

*NOTE: On July 1, 2023, Ronald McDonald House of Chapel Hill and Ronald McDonald House of Durham & Wake will formally merge to become Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Triangle (RMHC Triangle).