Ronald McDonald House Charities^® Southwestern Ontario About Us

3 decades, 3 generations

Kevin’s family at the house

Ronald McDonald House has been part of Kevin's family for 33 years. The year was 1985, Kevin was a volunteer House Manager, and his young family grew up seeing firsthand the importance of giving back. Today, his daughter Breanna is a House Ambassador and weekly grocery shopper, with her kids, Mikaela and Carson. Kevin now volunteers every Monday night as a House Refresher, and helps out with volunteer orientations.

His role involves keeping the house neat and clean, getting rooms ready, stocking up the laundry room, and completing whatever else needs to be done to ensure a comfortable stay for families. Ronald McDonald House has been a huge part of his life, and he now shares this with both his own daughter and grandchildren. Brenna shares about volunteer experience by saying
 

Volunteering was instilled in me since I was a young child. I have grown up giving back to the community so I thought it would be perfect for my kids to learn that life is not always what it is cracked up to be and some people are struggling. Volunteering has given my kids a sense of reality, and it has taught them to give back when they can.

Kevin and his family encourage others to volunteer, as it has brought so much joy into their families lives. 

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE RMHC-SWO TO VOLUNTEER YOUR TIME?
Kevin explains, “When the Ronald McDonald House was initially opening, I knew they were looking for volunteers because at the time I was a store manager at McDonald’s. So I began to volunteer! I left McDonald’s in 1990, but I have continued as an RMHC-SWO volunteer.” 
Breanna chimed in, “My dad has been a volunteer here since the day that I was born. This place is like a second home to me! Volunteering was instilled in me since I was a young child. I have grown up giving back to the community so I thought it would be perfect for my kids to learn that life is not always what it is cracked up to be and some people are struggling. Volunteering has given my kids a sense of reality, and it has taught them to give back when they can.”
 

IS THERE SOMETHING YOU FIND “AMAZING” ABOUT RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE?
Kevin shares, “You get to see the true appreciation that people have for what you do. It’s a genuine feeling. You feel that what you are doing really does make a difference! Families and friends come back to pay it forward with donations and volunteering their time, some of the children come back to volunteer when they can, even some of the staff that work here stayed in the Ronald McDonald House as young children.”