By Tyler Marr

Ronald McDonald Family Room looking to cook up some care

Apr 9, 2017 | 8:00 AM

Coordinators with the Ronald McDonald Family Room are looking to establish a Food Program and are inviting groups to volunteer and prepare home-cooked meals for families of sick children.

The Family Room at the Victoria Hospital is a space offered to those whose children are receiving medical care as an opportunity to rejuvenate themselves while grappling with a stressful time in their lives.

“It is a kind of small home in the Victoria Hospital,”  Nadia Balytska, family room coordinator said. “We want to support families as they support their sick kids.”

Since its launch in September 2016, the room has served over 1,500 families and among the top activities observed has been people preparing light meals and snacks.

Seeing this, the group is hoping to recruit a number of volunteers and organizations to prepare a few home-cooked meals, so periodically throughout the year, families have an opportunity to enjoy a welcome treat.

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“It is so important for those families who have sick kids in the hospital to come to the room and have a home cooked meal because very often, as you understand, families are stressed and don’t have time to cook or sometimes they may not have money to buy food,” Balytska said.

The idea has already peaked the interest of some, with a group of ladies descending on the kitchen in December to prepare a Christmas lunch for around eight or nine families who were residing at the hospital residence over the holidays.

Interested groups will be required to pay for the meal. Family Room staff and volunteers will also be available to lend a hand during meal preparation.

Volunteer groups, depending on the meal can be between three and six people, be it breakfast, lunch or dinner, and are encouraged to keep the dishes simple and in the realm of comfort food. Those interested in lending a hand are asked to contact Balytska at the hospital.

— with files from Sarah Wallace

Tyler.Marr@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @JournoMarr