SHREVEPORT, La. – [April 3, 2024] Ronald McDonald House Charities® of Arkansas & North Louisiana (RMHCAR-NLA) broke ground today on the first Ronald McDonald House® in Northwest Louisiana, the Ronald McDonald House Shreveport-Bossier (RMHSB). The event took place on the site of the new 23,000 square foot, 20-family suite Ronald McDonald House on the campus of Willis Knighton South at 9100 Susan Drive in Shreveport. This House will serve as a respite for families with a seriously ill or injured child in any local hospital.
“Today we celebrated a new milestone, one that will offer comfort, care and support to countless Louisiana families facing unimaginable challenges.” said Eric Mangham, RMHCAR-NLA Board Chair. “After extensive research identified the need for a Ronald McDonald House to serve the pediatric medical community, we seized the opportunity to create a Ronald McDonald House program here and the community quickly embraced the concept.”
“Being able to provide this home away from home for families is so important. No family should ever have to worry about how they will afford to stay close to their child. We are so thankful to Roy Griggs, his fundraising efforts and personal generosity, along with so many incredible donors in this community who have brought us to this day. I cannot begin to describe our excitement and joy, and we can’t wait to begin serving families in May 2025,” said RMHCAR-NLA CEO Janell Mason.
As chair of the Where Hope Has a Home campaign to raise $10 million needed for this project, Roy Griggs, Shreveport business leader and philanthropist said, “As of today, nearly $7.5 million has been donated and we continue to need gifts of all sizes from our community to reach our final goal.”
Ronald McDonald House Shreveport-Bossier is expected to serve over 21,000 people in its first year. Each night the House will host 20 families, where they will have free lodging and a community of support while their children receive treatment in area hospitals. Families will have a private, double queen suite, meals and snacks, daily essentials, laundry facilities, indoor and outdoor play spaces, family great room, a spacious kitchen, dining room and family pantry in addition to many other amenities and activities. Transportation will be provided to and from all hospitals, and volunteer groups from the area will provide dinner each night for families.
In addition, local families with a child in the hospital who are not staying at the Ronald McDonald House overnight may visit during the day. They can freshen up with a shower, wash a load of laundry, grab a snack, enjoy a hot cup of coffee, and find a quiet space where they can reset and regroup before returning to the hospital.
Ronald McDonald House Shreveport-Bossier plans to begin serving families in May 2025. For more information about Ronald McDonald House Charities of Arkansas & North Louisiana, go to rmhcar-nla.org.
About Ronald McDonald House Charities of Arkansas & North Louisiana
Ronald McDonald House Charities® of Arkansas & North Louisiana is a locally funded and operated non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to providing a home away from home for families of critically ill children being treated at local hospitals while offering programs that benefit children’s health. Since 1981, more than 48,000 families have been served at the Ronald McDonald House Arkansas along with the Ronald McDonald Family Room at UAMS, both in Little Rock. The newest program, Ronald McDonald House Shreveport-Bossier will open in May 2025. Find out more at rmhcar-nla.org and follow along on Facebook, Instagram, X and LinkedIn