Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) Toronto is expanding the support it provides to families of seriously ill children in Northeastern Ontario.
Today, RMHC Toronto officially opened its Family Room at Health Sciences North (HSN), providing a “home away from home” for families just steps away from where their child is being treated.
The room, which is located near the NEO Kids pediatrics and neonatal intensive care units, provides a welcoming and comforting environment for parents to recharge. The room features a stocked kitchenette, fireplace, TVs, recliners and sofas so family members can rest.
The room is also staffed by volunteers with RMHC Toronto seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Since the room opened at Health Sciences North on Dec. 1, it's hosted 88 different families.
Susan St. Georges was one of the first people to use the room after her son Benjamin was born prematurely in December.
"The Family Room is just what I needed," St. Georges said in a press release. "I could relax and de-stress without leaving my son's side."
The Family Room at HSN is the seventh in-hospital Family Room operated by RMHC Toronto, but it is the first one outside of the Greater Toronto Area.
Watch the grand opening ceremony followed by a special tour of the new Family Room in the video above.
