Ronald McDonald House of Scranton

Mission Moment

In May 2017, five-year-old Addisyn became suddenly ill. What began as stomach pain quickly escalated to a serious medical emergency—appendicitis that had ruptured. Addisyn was rushed from her local ER to a hospital two hours from home, where she underwent emergency surgery and began a five-day recovery. With three other children at home, Addisyn’s parents were overwhelmed. That’s when the Ronald McDonald House stepped in. They offered a place to stay, meals, and support—all at no cost—so Addisyn’s family could remain close during her critical care. Addisyn received a comfort blanket and an activity bag that brought her joy and peace during a traumatic time. Her mom was given a place to rest, and her siblings had a space to feel at home when visiting. Ronald McDonald House was a lifeline for their entire family. Today, they give back in gratitude—because no one should face a child’s medical crisis alone.

Our Mission & Programs

For nearly 40 years, the Ronald McDonald House of Scranton has served families just like Addisyn's by providing essential services that remove barriers, strengthen families, and promote healing when children need healthcare.   We do this through our core programs which provide free of charge lodging at our facility on Wheeler Avenue, transportation to and from the hospital, volunteer cooked meals, community donated snacks, beverages, hygiene items, and other comfort items, and our family rooms inside the hospital that provide a touch of home and all the services of the house just a few feet from where babies and children receive life-saving medical care.  

Who We Are

For over 34 years, the Ronald McDonald House of Scranton, Inc. has provided a home away from home for families with seriously ill children receiving critical care in medical facilities. Our mission is comprised of two Core Programs: the House Overnight Guest Program and four In-Hospital Family Room Programs. Each work together and are designed to help keep families close to their children while they are being cared for in our area.

Last year, the House Overnight Guest Program supported approximately 2,000 overnight stays, with many families staying for an extended period of a month or more. This program provides a bed and breakfast style of lodging, complete with a fully stocked kitchen, laundry facilities, private bathrooms, transportation and support services. These services are provided at no cost to the families and help decrease the stress and worries that they would typically experience during times like these.

Our In-Hospital Family Rooms provide a comfortable, inviting retreat for parents to escape to while their child is being cared for in the hospital due to illness or injury. A Family Room is just steps away from a child’s bedside and provides our guests with all of the comforts of home, while allowing them to step away from the hospital setting and find the rest they desperately need. Every day we visit each child patient to offer them a gift to brighten their day and to bring families refreshments through our hospitality program. Last year, we saw over 13,000 visits to our Family Rooms and almost 6,000 patient room visits.

Please understand that we are a true not for profit in that we do not receive any government funding or medical reimbursement for our services as some non-profits do. We fund 100% of our programs through grants and fundraising. We believe that the Ronald McDonald House mission and core programs align with your commitment to making a real and substantive impact on the health and welfare of the people in Northeastern Pennsylvania. Your help would allow us to continue offering our compassionate support programs and help us to keep families close to their children.