04 Feb 5 Simple Ways to Care for Families with Sick Children

When a family has a sick child, you can make sure they’re never alone.
Housing, financial security, mental health, and access to meals all come into question when a family is facing medical crisis. Ronald McDonald House Charities Bay Area is a resource for families when and where they need it most, so they can focus on what matters most — caring for their sick child.
“Ronald McDonald House provides so very much to families in need such as housing, transportation, food and so so so much love.” — The Gravelin Family
Learn more about how you can make a difference for families with sick children below.
5 Simple Ways to Care for Families with Sick Children
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Start a Fundraiser
Helping families is about more than donating. It’s also about bringing awareness of their needs to your friends and family. Provide a way for your network to donate by hosting a fundraiser.
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Donate Care Kits
Families spend countless hours in the hospital, at appointments and caring for their child. Care kits provide parents with necessities that help them get through each day. You can stock care kits with toiletries, non-perishable and individually wrapped snacks, activity books, and more. For more information visit rmhcbayarea.org/care-kits or contact Uriel Valencia at uriel.valencia@rmhcbayarea.org.
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Check Out Our Wish Lists
Many times, the simplest way to help is to bring a smile to the faces of families with sick children. You can do that by sending toys and care items through our wish lists. To see what our most needed items are, view our Amazon and Target wish lists.
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Make an Immediate Impact
The fastest and most direct way to make an immediate impact is to donate online. Our secure site allows you to donate in a variety of ways, including setting up a sustaining monthly contribution.
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Join Our New Young Professionals Network or Spread the Word!
The Red Shoe Society is a professional membership group of young leaders who share a collective goal: to advance the mission and work of Ronald McDonald House Charities Bay Area. They engage and empower young professionals in the Bay Area to get actively involved in philanthropic and leadership endeavors and make a positive difference in our community. Their support for RMHC keeps families with sick kids together and near the medical care they need. Learn more and view their upcoming events.
Families We Serve
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Press Release: RMHC Bay Area Honors 18-Year Journey of Central Valley Family
Palo Alto, CA, May 20, 2025 — For more than 18 years, the Medina-Flores family of Sacramento has turned to Ronald McDonald House Charities Bay Area (RMHC Bay Area) for its array of critical family-centered services that have helped them navigate their son Alex’s complex medical journey. Read more about Press Release: RMHC Bay Area Honors 18-Year Journey of Central Valley Family...
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When a Child is Sick, the Whole Family is Sick—and Heals Together
When Adina Flores’ son, Alex, was born 18 years ago, he arrived prematurely and was diagnosed with hypoplastic left heart syndrome. Within his first two weeks of life, Alex underwent two open-heart surgeries. Following the second, he was airlifted from their home in Sacramento to Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford— Read more about When a Child is Sick, the Whole Family is Sick—and Heals Together...
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Kinsley’s Story — Together Through It All
Aloha from the Sylva-Kanagusuku 'SK' Family 🌸 At RMHC Bay Area, we believe in the power of family. For the SK family, that power has been their greatest strength during Kinsley's medical journey. When Kinsley, the youngest of four siblings adopted by Jennifer and Lahela, was diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder causing severe epilepsy, her family traveled 2,500 miles from Hawaii to Stanford for life-saving surgery. Read more about Kinsley’s Story — Together Through It All...

When a family has a sick child, you can make sure they’re never alone.
Housing, financial security, mental health, and access to meals all come into question when a family is facing medical crisis that can’t be cared for close to home. Ronald McDonald House Charities Bay Area is a resource for families when and where they need it most, so they can focus on what matters most — caring for their sick child.
“Ronald McDonald House provides so very much to families in need such as housing, transportation, food and so so so much love.” – The Gravelin Family
Learn more about how you can make a difference for families with sick children below.
5 Simple Ways to Care for Families with Sick Children
-
Start a Fundraiser
Helping families is about more than donating. It’s also about bringing awareness of the need to your friends and family. Provide a way for your network to donate by hosting a fundraiser.
-
Donate Care Kits
Families spend countless hours in the hospital, at appointments and caring for their child. Care kits provide parents with necessities that help them get through each day. You can stock care kits with toiletries, non-perishable individually wrapped snacks, activity books, and more. For more information visit rmhcbayarea.org/care-kits or contact Uriel Valencia at uriel.valencia@rmhcbayarea.org.
-
Check Out Our Wishlists
Many times, the simplest way to help is to bring a smile to the faces of families with sick children. You can do that by sending toys and care items through our wishlists. To see what our most needed items are, view our Amazon and Target wishlists.
-
Make an Immediate Impact
The fastest and most direct way to make an immediate impact is to donate online. Our secure site allows you to donate in a variety of ways, including setting up a sustaining monthly contribution.
-
Join Our New Young Professionals Network or Spread the Word!
The Red Shoe Society is a professional membership group of young leaders who share a collective goal: to advance the mission and work of Ronald McDonald House Charities Bay Area. They engage and empower young professionals in the Bay Area to get actively involved in philanthropic and leadership endeavors, make a positive difference in our community. Their support for the Charity keeps families with sick kids together and near the medical care they need. Learn more and view their upcoming events.
Families We Serve
-
Press Release: RMHC Bay Area Honors 18-Year Journey of Central Valley Family
Palo Alto, CA, May 20, 2025 — For more than 18 years, the Medina-Flores family of Sacramento has turned to Ronald McDonald House Charities Bay Area (RMHC Bay Area) for its array of critical family-centered services that have helped them navigate their son Alex’s complex medical journey. Read more about Press Release: RMHC Bay Area Honors 18-Year Journey of Central Valley Family...
-
When a Child is Sick, the Whole Family is Sick—and Heals Together
When Adina Flores’ son, Alex, was born 18 years ago, he arrived prematurely and was diagnosed with hypoplastic left heart syndrome. Within his first two weeks of life, Alex underwent two open-heart surgeries. Following the second, he was airlifted from their home in Sacramento to Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford— Read more about When a Child is Sick, the Whole Family is Sick—and Heals Together...
-
Kinsley’s Story — Together Through It All
Aloha from the Sylva-Kanagusuku 'SK' Family 🌸 At RMHC Bay Area, we believe in the power of family. For the SK family, that power has been their greatest strength during Kinsley's medical journey. When Kinsley, the youngest of four siblings adopted by Jennifer and Lahela, was diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder causing severe epilepsy, her family traveled 2,500 miles from Hawaii to Stanford for life-saving surgery. Read more about Kinsley’s Story — Together Through It All...