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More Than a Meal

A new commercial kitchen will help Ronald McDonald House provide daily meals, comfort, and community for thousands of families caring for a hospitalized child.

$1.5 Million Leadership Gift

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Families and children enjoying meals together in the Ronald McDonald House dining room in Southeastern MN and Western WI.

Thanks to a transformational leadership gift from the Harper Family Foundation.

Demand Is Accelerating

Since 2022:

Family and children at Ronald McDonald House Southeastern MN, providing support and comfort for families with sick children.

Families served have increased 210%

Ronald McDonald House Southeastern MN provides comfort and support to families with children in need, offering a welcoming environment in southeastern Minnesota.

We expect to serve 3,000 families and provide 30,000+ meals in 2026

Ronald McDonald House Southeastern MN logo featuring a red bowl with a heart and a yellow cloud above, symbolizing care and support for families.

Meals provided have increased 141%

At the same time, Ronald McDonald House has expanded from 42 guest rooms to 72, allowing us to serve significantly more families each year. We’ve also strengthened our commitment to families by expanding our meal program from four meals each week to one meal every day.

But while our House and services have grown, our kitchen has not. Designed to support a much smaller House, our current kitchen no longer has the capacity to prepare, store, and distribute the volume of food needed to meet today’s demand—or tomorrow’s.

A new commercial kitchen is the next essential step in ensuring every family continues to receive the comfort, nourishment, and care they deserve.

Ronald McDonald House Southeastern MN and Western WI exterior view, showcasing welcoming entrance and signage for families in need.

Meals Provided

Ronald McDonald House Southeastern MN and Western WI provides comfort and support to families of seriously ill children in Minnesota and Wisconsin.

Families Served

9,272

486 

2022

11,854

1,093

2023

15,163

1,315

2024

2,325

1,508

2025

30,000

3,000

2026
projected

Volunteers preparing meals in the Ronald McDonald House kitchen in Southeastern MN and Western WI.

More Families.
More Meals.

For years, Ronald McDonald House provided approximately four meals each week.

Today, we are committed to providing one meal every day because we know how meaningful a warm meal can be for families facing a child's medical crisis.

Modern dining area at Ronald McDonald House Southeastern MN and Western WI with families and children enjoying meals.

That commitment means thousands more meals every year—and a kitchen designed to meet today's needs and tomorrow's growth.


Why a Commercial Kitchen?

A new commercial kitchen will allow us to:

  • Sustain daily meal service
  • Support more volunteer meal groups
  • Increase food storage and preparation capacity
  • Improve efficiency and food safety
  • Support our Food Co-op and Ronald McDonald Family Room through centralized food preparation and distribution
  • Reduce waste and maximize donor resources through greater operational efficiency
  • Serve more families for years to come

Help Nourish Families

The Harper Family Foundation has generously committed the first $1.5 million toward this project.

Families and children enjoying meals and socializing in a bright, welcoming dining area at Ronald McDonald House Southeastern MN and Western WI.

Thanks to the Harper Family Foundation’s transformational leadership gift, construction of a new commercial kitchen is underway.

Now we’re inviting our community to help complete the project and invest in the future of family meals at Ronald McDonald House.

Community support will help fund the remaining construction of the commercial kitchen. Once the project is complete, additional gifts will sustain our growing nutrition program, including daily meals, volunteer meal groups, the Food Co-op, and nutrition support for families utilizing the Ronald McDonald Family Room.

More Than a Meal

A meal is never just a meal. It is one less worry, one more moment of comfort, and a reminder that no family walks this journey alone.


With your support, we can ensure every family continues to receive the nourishment, care, and community they deserve.

Join the More Than a Meal Campaign by making a gift today.

Questions?

Contact our Development Team


Thanks to the Harper Family Foundation's generous gift, your gift today will be doubled, up to $1.5 million.

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