Ronald McDonald House Charities Central Texas opens first in-hospital house at Texas Children’s Austin

AUSTIN (KXAN) — On Monday, Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Texas celebrated the grand opening of its new house at Texas Children’s Hospital in north Austin. 

The organization provides essential services for families such as warm meals and a place to rest near their child while they are receiving care at the hospital. 

This will be Central Texas’ second Ronald McDonald House. The first house is located in Mueller next to Dell’s Children’s Medical Center, according to the organization’s website. However, the north Austin house will be the first in-hospital house.

The north Austin house will have nine separate family suites, according to a press release. Families will also have a kitchen staffed with volunteers preparing meals, a dining area, a lounge room, complimentary laundry facilities and a room for arts and activities.

Just steps away from their child’s bedside, the collaboration with Texas Children’s Hospital Austin ties into RMHC’s mission of keeping families close. 

“This new in-hospital Ronald McDonald House represents a meaningful commitment to families across Central Texas and beyond,” said Dr. Jeffrey Shilt, president of Austin and Central Texas at Texas Children’s. “By bringing this resource directly onto our Austin campus, we are helping ensure families can stay close to their child, remain connected to their care team and focus on what matters most during some of life’s most challenging moments.”

CEO of Ronald McDonald House of Central Texas Kristin Coulter said this is a milestone for the organization. 

“We’ve been experiencing a waitlist due to shortages of rooms for the last 5 years so today is a milestone moment for Ronald McDonald House because we are going to be able to serve nine more families here at the house who have children who are critically ill or injured staying at the hospital,” Coulter said.