RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE OF DANVILLE INC

RONALD MCDONALD HOUSEMANY FAMILIES HAVE TO TRAVEL FAR AND SPEND SEVERAL WEEKS AND EVEN MONTHS AWAY FROM HOME IN ORDER TO RECEIVE MEDICAL CARE FOR THEIR ILL CHILD. DURING THIS TIME, PARENTS ARE OFTEN SEPARATED FROM THEIR OTHER CHILDREN AND FAMILY SUPPORT SYSTEMS. IN ADDITION TO THE STRESS OF DEALING WITH THEIR CHILD'S ILLNESS, THEY ARE BURDENED WITH THE COST OF LODGING, MEALS, AND OTHER BASIC NEEDS.OUR PROGRAM WAS CONCEIVED TO CARE FOR THESE FAMILIES AND GIVE THEM A CHANCE TO MAINTAIN A SENSE OF NORMALCY WHILE AWAY FROM HOME. WE MEET FAMILIES' DAY-TO-DAY NEEDS SO THEY CAN REMAIN CLOSE TO THEIR CHILD. LODGING AT THE HOUSE LIFTS THE FINANCIAL BURDEN ON BUDGETS ALREADY STRAINED BY MEDICAL EXPENSES.THE RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE OF DANVILLE OFFERS A SAFE HAVEN FOR FAMILIES AND ENSURES THAT CHILDREN HAVE THE LOVE AND SUPPORT THEY NEED WHEN THEY ARE HOSPITALIZED. WHETHER IT'S CHEMOTHERAPY OR A STANDARD MEDICAL PROCEDURE LIKE AN X-RAY, A CHILD NEEDS LOVED ONES NEARBY FOR SUPPORT.THE GENEROSITY OF VOLUNTEERS AND DONORS MAKES OUR HOUSE POSSIBLE, AND DUE TO THEIR KINDNESS, FAMILIES ARE ABLE TO STAY FOR A SMALL DONATION OF $15.00 PER NIGHT. HOWEVER, NO ONE IS EVER TURNED AWAY FOR THE INABILITY TO DONATE TO THE HOUSE.DAY GUESTAT TIMES, PARENTS ARE ABLE TO LODGE IN THE PATIENTS' ROOMS WITHIN THE PEDIATRIC HOSPITAL. HOWEVER, THESE FAMILIES MAY NOT HAVE THE FUNDS TO GO TO THE CAFETERIA OR MAY NEED SOME TIME AWAY FROM THE HOSPITAL SETTING TO GATHER THEIR THOUGHTS.TO SUPPORT THESE FAMILIES, THE RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE OF DANVILLE OFFERS THE DAY GUEST PROGRAM. FAMILIES CAN HAVE A RESPITE FROM THE STERILE ENVIRONMENT OF THE HOSPITAL BY COMING TO THE WARM SETTING OF THE HOUSE, WHERE THEY CAN HAVE A MEAL AND RELAX. OUR VOLUNTEERS AND DONORS MAKE THIS PROGRAM POSSIBLE.

CAMP DOSTTHE RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE OF DANVILLE IS THE PROUD SPONSOR OF CAMP DOST. CAMP DOST IS HELD AT CAMP VICTORY, A SPECIAL NEEDS CAMPING FACILITY, LOCATED IN MILLVILLE, PA. THE PROGRAM WAS CONCEIVED TO GIVE PEDIATRIC CANCER PATIENTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO ENJOY A SUMMER CAMP EXPERIENCE WITHOUT WORRYING ABOUT MEDICAL CARE. PERHAPS MORE IMPORTANT TO CHILDREN, THERE ARE NO WORRIES ABOUT "FITTING IN." AT CAMP DOST, THEY HAVE MORE IN COMMON WITH THEIR PEERS THAN ANY PLACE ELSE.THE CAMP EXPERIENCE HAS ALWAYS PROVED TO BE A RICH AND REWARDING ONE THAT LEADS TO FOND MEMORIES AND UNEXPECTED LIFE LESSONS. IN THE NURTURING ENVIRONMENT OF CAMP DOST, CAMPERS REALIZE A NEW-FOUND INDEPENDENCE THROUGH PERSONAL GROWTH. THEY LEARN TO COMPROMISE, APPRECIATE TEAMWORK, AND BECOME A SELF-ADVOCATE. MOST IMPORTANTLY, THEY COME TO UNDERSTAND THAT THEY ARE NOT ALONE IN THEIR BATTLE WITH CANCER. CAMP DOST PROVIDES A SYSTEM OF SUPPORT LIKE NO OTHER. IT BEGINS WITH THE FACT THAT EACH PATIENT IS PERMITTED TO INVITE ONE SIBLING TO ATTEND CAMP, ADD TO THAT THE VOLUNTEER COUNSELORS, MANY OF WHOM ARE FORMER CAMPERS THEMSELVES, AND A MEDICAL STAFF OF FAMILIAR FACES. EITHER BY PERSONAL OR PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE, ALL CAMP DOST STAFF KNOW THE ROAD OUR CAMPERS TRAVEL IN DEALING WITH CANCER.CAMP DOST OFFERS THE EXCITEMENT OF AN ARRAY OF ACTIVITIES: ROPE CLIMBING, SWIMMING, ARTS & CRAFTS, MUSIC, BIKING, FISHING, ETC. WHAT MAKES IT DIFFERENT FROM MOST SUMMER CAMPS IS A FULLY STAFFED FACILITY KNOWN AS THE "MED SHED." CENTRALLY LOCATED ON THE CAMPGROUNDS, THE MED SHED IS STAFFED BY A PEDIATRIC ONCOLOGY PHYSICIAN OR CERTIFIED REGISTERED NURSE PRACTITIONER AND A CERTIFIED PEDIATRIC ONCOLOGY NURSE. AN ADDED RESOURCE IS THE MANY PROFESSIONALS WHO SERVE AS VOLUNTEER COUNSELORS: PEDIATRIC PHYSICIANS, PEDIATRIC PSYCHOLOGISTS, CHILD LIFE SPECIALISTS, SOCIAL WORKERS, AND OTHERS.