A R5 donation will help in the envisaged Ronald McDonald House Mother’s Lodge at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital.
The proposed Family Lodge aims to address a practical challenge faced by families of hospitalised children, access to safe, supportive accommodation close to the hospital.
On Thursday morning, McDonald’s South Africa and Ronald McDonald House South Africa, conducted a sod-turning ceremony in preparation for this much needed lodge, that is intended to ease pressure and enabling parents and caregivers to remain close to their children while they receive medical care.
The Mother’s Lodge will offer accommodation inside the hospital grounds, helping families reduce daily travel demands and spend more time with their children, whom many will be traveling outside Gauteng.
“At McDonald’s South Africa, we believe our responsibility extends beyond our restaurants.
As Ronald McDonald House South Africa’s founding and forever partner, we are proud to support a mission that makes a tangible difference in the lives of families. The Mother’s Lodge represents what can be achieved when businesses, communities and partners work together around a shared purpose,” says Max Oliva, Chief Executive Officer of McDonald’s South Africa.
As yet no exact figure was given to establish the lodge to be in full operation by 2027.
Disturbingly, the reaserch by Journal of Transport and Supply Chain Management, indicates financial pressure transport places on South African households, and that the same households spend an average of 16% of their total expenditure on transport, while transport costs account for approximately 29% of per capita household income in Gauteng, rising to between 40% and 50% in peripheral townships.
This is also compounded by the high rising economy, inflation and increasing fuel- despite Government’s intervention this week.
Through the establishment of the Mothers’ Lodge, the above concerns will be addressed and ease frustrations faced by families of these young kids .
“Every family deserves the opportunity to stay close to their sick child during the most difficult moments of their lives.
The Mother’s Lodge at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital is an important step towards making that possible. Through strong partnerships and collective commitment, we can ease the burden on families, restore dignity and ensure that no parent has to face their child’s medical journey alone,” says Matshepo Msibi, CEO of Ronald McDonald House South Africa.
The R5 Buy-a-Brick fundraising initiative offers South Africans a tangible way to contribute to the project and help mobilise resources needed to bring the Mother’s Lodge to completion.
Image supplied (Max Oliva, Chief Executive Officer of McDonald’s South Africa, recorded addressing guests at the Sod-Turning ceremony for the envisaged Mother’s Lodge at Chris Hani- Baragwanath hospital on Thursday.)
