Thirty-Five Years, One Mission
June 16, 2025
Thirty-five years ago, the doors of 200 Central Avenue welcomed its first family home. Then another, then another. Since its inception in November of 1990, thousands of families have called Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Chattanooga “Home.”
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.
There is something about food that can hold people together, especially when life feels like it is falling apart. At Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Chattanooga, a warm meal is never just food. It is comfort, connection, and a reminder that families are not facing their hardest days alone. For the last thirty-five years, Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Chattanooga has served as a “Home away from Home” for families with critically ill or injured children receiving treatment just steps away at nearby hospitals. When families are navigating hospital stays, treatment plans, and the weight of the unknown, RMHC strives to be their safety net. That is why we provide lodging, laundry, hygiene necessities, and meals at no cost to families. Families come through our doors carrying unimaginable stress. They’re juggling hospital visits, medical decisions, and long stretches of uncertainty. In the middle of medical chaos, a warm plate of food has the power to do more than just provide sustenance, but comfort as well. That’s why every day, our team and community volunteers prepare and serve meals to the families staying under our roof. The Brown family, one of the many supported over the past year, shared just how powerful that kind of care can be. On their first night at the House, Audrea Brown sat down to a familiar dish: chicken casserole. It happened to be her favorite meal growing up, one her mom often made at home. That small moment meant a lot more than familiarity. “It’s a House you never think you’ll have to use, but when you do, it’s a Home you never forget,” said her husband, Ethan. At RMHC, the dinner table becomes a place where strangers become support systems. In the Great Room kitchen, families who may have never met before find themselves sitting side by side, opening up about their children, their stories, and their hopes. In a season full of uncertainty, that kind of shared understanding can be just as healing as the meals themselves. The Great Kitchen is open 24/7 and intentionally stocked with healthy snacks and grab-and-go meals, making sure families always have what they need day or night. Within the last year, RMHC of Greater Chattanooga has hired a Kitchen Manager/ Chef who provides more than just nourishment- through delicious, from-scratch meals, baked goods, and warm conversation, she creates a comforting space that feeds both body and spirit. Parents often stop in on their way to or from the hospital, grabbing something quick before heading back to their child’s bedside. It’s one less thing to worry about, and one more way we let them know we’ve got their back. In a world of medical charts, hospital corridors, and constant uncertainty, something as simple as a warm plate of food or a stocked fridge becomes a visible expression of care. This June, RMHC of Greater Chattanooga is proud to launch our Restaurant Give Back Month, inviting the community to help us continue providing this support to our families simply by enjoying your favorite restaurants. Throughout the month, generous community partners will donate a portion of their proceeds to help us continue keeping families near one another and the care they need. Head to our website to find out where you’re going to enjoy your next meal that heals. As we reflect on our 35 years, there is deep gratitude for the families who have trusted RMHC with their hardest days, and for the volunteers, donors, and partners who continue to show up with love and generosity, plate by plate, year after year. These acts of kindness make each meal more than just food, they become a reminder that healing doesn’t happen alone.
