Finding Solutions: Ronald McDonald House looks for after canceled fundraiser
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - Not everyone receiving care at the Children’s Hospital of Georgia lives in the CSRA. That’s where the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Augusta steps in.
We shared with you back in September about how they house families at no cost while their child receives treatment.
With the cancellation of an annual fundraiser, they’re now looking ahead to ways they can gain the community’s .
They’re finding solutions in how they can get you to help them serve thousands of families at the children’s hospital.
The Ronald McDonald House Charities of Augusta has been helping families for 40 years.
Church offers resource center to community
Smiles, laughter and a good time is what you would have found at Beulah Grove Community Resource Center’s senior day.
With their 23-bedroom house located steps away from the children’s hospital, they’re able to give families a place to stay.
“Being that close to the hospital means that no matter where they come from, they are right by their child’s side and keeping families together. We are working to remove barriers for families. We’re strengthening those families by keeping them together and we are promoting healing for their child,” said David Jacobsen, president and CEO of Ronald McDonald House Charities of Augusta.
This is made possible at no cost to the families because of the community’s and through annual fundraisers, like Wine, Women and Shoes.
Sadly, the event for 2024 was canceled because of Hurricane Helene.
Instead of originally postponing it, they have now decided to look ahead to this year’s event in September.
Ashlee Duren, board chair of Ronald McDonald House Charities of Augusta, said: “We just knew that the community as a whole wasn’t ready for something of this magnitude, and we wanted to make sure we were respectful of that. We also wanted to make sure we had a great fundraising event and felt pushing it off until the fall was the best thing for everybody, so we are really looking forward to it.”
Second Act Thrift Store sees ‘abnormal days’ after opening
We told you back in September about the Second Act Thrift Store located downtown on 8th Street. Since opening on Sept. 20, the Second Act Thrift Store has experienced a lot.
She says despite not having last year’s event, that doesn’t affect their ability to help families.
One new way they are doing that is through this hospitality cart that is full of goodies to take to families at the hospital.
Jacobsen said: “This program, we need volunteers that are qualified through the hospital and RMHC to take that same comfort of the house and extend it to every room in the children’s hospital.”
They say volunteers are greatly needed right now so that they can continue their mission.
Duren said: “I think it’s critically important that people understand the mission of the Ronald McDonald House and the things that we have here in this community that can really help them while their children are sick and allow them to really focus on their child.”
The Wine, Women and Shoes fundraiser is set for Sept. 18.
Until then, you can them by volunteering for the hospitality cart or g up for their family table where you can provide food and cook for the families who stay at the Ronald McDonald House.
For more information, visit https://rmhcaugusta.org/.
Copyright 2025 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
