Home for the Holidays
November 8, 2024
At Ronald McDonald House Charities® of Greater Chattanooga, the mission has stood true for over thirty-four years; to provide families with the care and resources they need when their child is sick and to support programs and services that directly improve the health and well-being of children. In an effort to aid families with children receiving medical care, RMHC provides a safe place full of provisions, allowing families to focus on what matters most: their sick child.
RMHC operates with the understanding that life cannot be put on pause due to unforeseen circumstances; however, there is space to ease the chaos for families.
This space is filled by four major programs that follow a "continuum of care" model, focusing on helping families navigate their medical journey far beyond their stay in the House. When families confront a critical illness or injury, their struggles do not end with the discharge process. As a result, RMHC of Greater Chattanooga proudly operates their Family Room, Mindful Room, and House to Home programs in addition to their House.
Ronald McDonald House’s twenty-eight-bedroom facility operates 24/7, 365 days a year. Fresh meals, laundry services, and comfortable beds do not take a holiday in their Home, because unfortunately, critical injury and illness do not take holiday either.
No matter the day, their House is fully operational with staff, volunteers, and of course families.
Nineteen years ago, Donna and Marty Lowe found themselves calling RMHC their “home for the holidays” after their son, Mason, was born eight weeks prematurely with fluid in his lungs. Mason critically needed time in the NICU to heal and learn to breathe on his own, so the couple began searching for a place to stay near the hospital. After a nurse overheard the two discussing their difficulty finding an available hotel room, she suggested the Ronald McDonald House. “The nurse helped Marty coordinate with the staff, and by the time I was released from the hospital, RMHC had arranged everything for us. We had a place to stay across the street from our son, which was priceless,” Donna continues, “Staying at the Ronald McDonald House saved us both financially and emotionally. Knowing we were just steps away from Mason allowed us to be close when we couldn’t physically be with him. When your child is in the NICU, you can’t stay all day; there are scheduled times for visits. Being nearby was invaluable and kept us grounded during those long days and nights.”
Through meals prepared with care, welcoming accommodations, and many support services provided by dedicated volunteers and staff, RMHC seeks to offer a resemblance of relief and normalcy during extraordinarily challenging times. “The Ronald McDonald House felt familiar from the moment we arrived,” Donna says, “At first, there was an awkwardness because you don’t know what to expect.” You don’t want to impose or overstay your welcome. But those feelings quickly faded because of the warmth and love that filled the house. It was Christmas time, yet the staff and volunteers were there, making sure everything was taken care of, just as they would any other day. What surprised us most was the seamless way they provided every necessity—a room, shower, kitchen, and the comfort of a home.”
The holidays are meant to be spent with loved ones, and Ronald McDonald House understands this power. “Spending the holiday season away from home, with your child in the NICU, is heartbreaking. Christmas should be joyful, but with Mason's uncertain health, it was hard to find that joy, The hospital felt somber and quiet. When we moved to the Ronald McDonald House, everything changed,” Donna says, recalling a memory of making ornaments with other families facing similar circumstances. “The holiday spirit was alive there- it was warm, celebratory, and filled with care. The staff brought the comfort and joy of the season into our lives, creating an atmosphere of love and compassion.”
Families staying at the House often find solace in one another, as they are experiencing similar hardships. “We shared the Ronald McDonald House with many other families, each of us bound by similar, heartbreaking experiences. Among them was a couple who had a baby girl admitted to the NICU on the same day as Mason. Although we didn’t see them often, every encounter with them at the RNHC was a moment to exchange updates and lean on each other. Tragically, their daughter didn’t make it, but those conversations left an indelible mark on us,” Donna remembers. “In the face of such uncertainty, the Ronald McDonald House brought us together, creating bonds that are impossible to forget. As a mother, my mind would often wander to worst-case scenarios, making it hard to sleep. One comforting memory was waking up in the middle of the night and heading to the kitchen. Once, I found some homemade cookies left for the families. I can’t recall what kind they were, but another parent and I ended up talking for what seemed like hours—long enough to finish the remaining cookies. Those quiet moments, often shared with other parents, became therapeutic. We exchanged stories, shared our worries, and found a silent understanding that helped us feel less alone.”
Stories such as Donna, Marty, and Mason’s are the very reason Ronald McDonald House operates; to provide comfort, hope, and togetherness.
This House is much more than a building, it is a place where parents can find peace over a cup of coffee, siblings can make fast friends in the playroom, and a long day in the hospital can end with a shared meal and the comfort of not being alone. Ronald McDonald House hallways have seen spirits break and heal- but one thing stays the same: the families are the heart of the Home. For three and a half decades, RMHC’s mission has remained unwavering: To provide families with the care and resources they need when their child is sick and to support programs and services that directly improve the health and well-being of children. More than just a place to sleep, RMHC Chattanooga offers home-cooked meals, a warm bed, and a supportive community that understands the emotional toll of medical trauma. No matter the length of time or service utilized, the goal is to lift the strain families are facing. Every room in the House holds a powerful story. Some begin with the fear of an early birth, others with a diagnosis no parent expects. In just the first few months of 2025, a mother found rest while her 9-year-old daughter received leukemia treatment next door at Erlanger. She was joined by her two younger daughters, and for 51 nights, this House became their safe place. In another room, a mother stayed close during her newborn’s 112-day fight in the NICU. Her baby boy was born at just 24 weeks. She remained strong, showing up each day alone while dad continued working back home. A few doors down, a family from Rhea County checked in after their newborn’s emergency transfer to the NICU. They stayed for 106 nights, finding strength in the rhythm of close hospital visits, prepared meals, and the community of other parents walking a similar road. These are not rare stories, but the reality inside the walls of RMHC for the past 35 years. From its beginnings as a 12-bedroom house, Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Chattanooga has grown into a multi-program organization focused on meeting families where they are. The Ronald McDonald Family Room at Erlanger extends comfort into the hospital itself, while House to Home provides support beyond a family’s stay. The addition of the Mindful Room offers a quiet, reflective space inside the House designed for emotional rest and healing. This incredible work would not be possible without the generous support of the local community. From corporate sponsors and longtime donors to volunteers and Adopt-A-Meal groups, countless people have played a role in sustaining the mission. McDonald’s owner/operators, in particular, have been an essential part of the organization’s foundation and future, contributing not only funds but also time, heart, and advocacy since the facility’s inception. Since 1990, RMHC of Greater Chattanooga has served thousands of families, each with a story that shaped the organization’s legacy. While the programs may grow and evolve, the aim will always be the same: to support families when they need it most, with compassion, understanding, and care. As RMHC of Greater Chattanooga celebrates this milestone anniversary, it also steps into a new season— one rooted in the same love that has carried the mission since day one. While much has changed, one thing never will: family will always be the heart of the Home.
At Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Chattanooga, we believe that our mission works best when it feels like family and few reflect that spirit more beautifully than the team at Southern Roofing and Exteriors. For the past year and a half, Chris and DeeDee Dyer along with their son and C.E.O, Terrell, have shown up faithfully through our Adopt-A-Meal program, preparing dinner once a month for the families staying at our House. DeeDee plans the meals, cooks them with care, and brings a sense of comfort that can’t be measured in servings. “Children are my heart,” DeeDee shared. “RMHC has always been on our radar — we’re just grateful for the opportunity to give back.” Their impact doesn’t stop in the kitchen. It’s woven into their company culture. A few weeks ago, one of their team members, Josh, started volunteering with us for Adopt-A-Meal and something clicked. After helping serve dinner, he came back for more: supporting our BugaPalüza event, helping at the front desk, and even bringing his fiancée, McKayla, to serve alongside him. What Josh shared afterward left us teary eyed. “These people are putting families together.” He said that being here and seeing the mission in action — gave him the confidence to propose. But what makes Josh’s story even more powerful is what brought him here. When Josh was 12 years old, he collapsed after a cold cross-country meet. What followed was a sudden diagnosis of pectus excavatum, a severe chest wall deformity that required major open-heart surgery. Doctors placed a stabilizing bar across his chest, and he spent seven months on bed rest. During that time, with 75 miles between their home and the hospital, Josh’s family, his parents and two younger siblings, stayed at Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Piedmont Triad in Winston-Salem, North Carolina for six days. Now, years later, he’s back in a Ronald McDonald House — not as a patient or a guest, but as a volunteer. A giver. We’re so grateful to the Dyer family and Southern Roofing and Exteriors for the love they’ve poured into our mission. From meals, to memories, to moments of connection that remind us why we do what we do. They are, in every sense, helping us keep families together.
