Heather has memories from each house. We have met many people that have remained dear to us. The staff and volunteers at each house have all been very helpful to us during our stays.
Since the Little Rock house has become sort of like our home the past seven months, we would like to tell you a little bit about this house. The house was founded by Sam Perroni, an attorney here in Little Rock. It was opened in 1980 to provide lodging for parents and families with seriously ill children hospitalized at Arkansas Children's Hospital. It was expanded to provide lodging to some adults and teens receiving outpatient treatment at local cancer facilities.
This house is a private, non-profit organization totally separate from the hospitals it serves. It has 26 bedrooms and 1 one bedroom apartment, plus the house manager's apartment. Families are referred to the house by the hospital and must live outside a 50-mile radius of Little Rock. They ask for a $10 per night donation from the guests, however, only 28% of guests are able to contribute.
One convenience for us, is the house is right across the street from Arkansas Children's Hospital. We can walk back and forth to the clinic or to the hospital. At night, the hospital security will bring us back and forth so we can feel safe. The phones in the rooms are connected to the hospital lines; so if we need a doctor in an emergency, all we have to do is dial the operator and she can page them.
Executive Director - Russelyn Hartke House Manager - Sally Tanner Administrative Assistant - Beth Quinney Evening Manager - Kenita Vanderslice Evening Manager - Patti Goff Weekend Manager - Anna Evans Weekend Manager - Lynn Jackson
They have all been very good to us. From the staff to board members, we have become very close to most of them. Heather has gone on shopping trips to the mall with some of them, and they even keep in contact with us when we are at home, just to check on her. We feel like they have become part of our extended family, while we are here.
Heather has become very close to one board member, Bobby Henry. He is truly dedicated to the house, where he spends most of his time off doing things for the house. He volunteers his time and can be found doing anything from fixing things to hauling Rummage for the sale. Heather loves to visit with him when she feels like it; he has been so kind and generous to us.
Another board member, Mike Frantz, invited Heather and I, along with a few staff and board members to a fish fry last year. As a treat, he sent a limo to pick us up to take us there and back. This was Heather's first ride in a limo, and she had a very exciting time.
Heather loves to swim, so on several occasions, she was invited to go out to Sam Perroni's house to swim in their pool. He and his wife, Pat, are very kind. Heather treasures a book about Abraham Lincoln that was given to her by Mr. Perroni out of his library on their first meeting, when he learned that she liked to read about Lincoln.
The Ronald McDonald Houses have meant so much to us through the years. Because of them, we have been able to cook our own meals, have a nice bed to sleep in, meet other families, and support and comfort us in bad times, while we are away from our home and family. They are a Home Away From Home for us and all who need to use them.
The houses rely on Donations and Major Fundraisers to keep the everyday bills paid and the house going. Donations of money, food, sheets, towels, toiletries, paper towels, toilet paper, etc. are much needed at all the houses, all the time. Some days, churches, individuals, and other organizations will cook a meal for the guests staying in the house. That is always a relief to us parents that have had a rough day over at the hospital or clinics to be able to come and sit down to a hot meal and be waited on. Southwest Airlines Employees cook once a month for the house, and the residents always enjoy that night.
There is a saying, "The Ronald McDonald House is the House that Love built". We can say that there is a loving atmosphere at every house we have stayed in. We will always try to show our appreciation and support for the Ronald McDonald House whenever we can. Thanks for coming by to visit this site and hope you will come back again. God bless you.
If you would like to help out the Ronald McDonald House of Little Rock, Arkansas, we know it will be greatly appreciated. Please tell them you heard of them through this website and Heather. You can contact:
Ronald McDonald House of Arkansas! Ronald McDonald House of Monroe, Louisiana! Ronald McDonald House of Dallas, Texas! Ronald McDonald House of Houston, Texas! Please visit the rest of my site!
You are guest # to my site since November, 1996.
Get your own FREE HOMEPAGE