RMHC Family Room Program
Volunteer Portal
Welcome to the RMHC St. Louis Family Room Program Volunteer Portal! First, thank you for being here and being a volunteer! Our goal is the this site to be a resource for you to refer to, especially during your volunteer shift, to keep you informed and knowledgeable about all things Family Room.
November Volunteer Information
Inclement Weather
In anticipation of any snowstorms or bad weather- please keep yourself safe during these times and we encourage you to make the safest choice for you in regard to your Family Room Volunteer Shift.
Whether that is:
· Staying home from your shift and notifying us
· Staying a little after your shift so you are not driving in bad weather or
· Coming in late and letting us know.
We want you to know that we support your decision because your safety means the most to us!
Also, because we do not know everyone’s comfortability levels, or where you live, we do not announce shutting down the Family Rooms. We let you make the decision of coming in or not, so just let us know so we can update the calendar and any necessary volunteers!
Flu Vaccinations
Flu Season 2024 is here and all Ronald McDonald Family Room Volunteers must abide by the hospitals requirements! This is your reminder to get your flu vaccinations submitted to your hospital asap to keep your volunteer profiled active!
Please reach out directly to the volunteer services at your hospital if you have any questions regarding ths.
Calling out for Shifts
Reminder- one of the busiest times of the year is quickly approaching (Thanksgiving, Winter Break, Christmas, Kwanza, Hanukah, New Years Eve, etc.). Please check your calendars asap and send either familyroom@rmhcstl.org or cbradshaw@rmhcstl.org and email, letting us know if you can not make an upcoming shift! The sooner you share this info with us, the easier it is for us to find a sub for you to ensure our 9am-9pm RMFR coverage!
Additionally, we need you feeling your 100% best for your shift, SO if you are feeling sick -runny nose, cough, cold, flu, etc. let us know ASAP that you will not be able to make an upcoming shift.
If you are calling out from your shift less than 24 hours, you must call the on-call phone.
Please be kind and give us the most heads up notice you can if possible!
Meet the Heart of the RMFR
As the Family Room, Director, Courtney Fischer oversees all of the Family Rooms, Family Room Staff, and Family Room Volunteers. She spends much of her time coordinating with our hospital partners in creating a better environment for the volunteers and guest families! When to email/call her: - As needed - When she's on-call (check the on-call schedule!)
As the Family Room Program Coordinator, Courtney Bradshaw recruits, onboards, trains, and does the scheduling for all volunteers at all three of our Hospital locations. She is the goto gal that communicates any hospital-specific or FR-specific information, as well as updates the Volunteer Portal. You can see her as she's filling in shifts volunteers are not able to cover! When to email/call her: - Any scheduling matter (signing up for a shift, calling out, etc.) -General questions regarding your role as a volunteer - Any communication clarification - When she's on-call (check the on-call schedule!)
As the Assistant Family Room Manager, Cierra is our Monday Inventory gal, the Up-keeper of all appliances or maintenance issues, and our Meal Donation Coordinator. At the beginning of each month, she sends out surveys to any new family that entered the Family Room the previous month. You will also see her covering shifts that volunteers are not able to cover! When to email/call her: - Something with inventory is needed (snacks, towels, pens, paper) - An appliance is malfunctioning (washer/dryer, coffee pot, sink) - When she's on-call (check the on-call schedule!)
As the Family Room Associate, Susan is a great addition to our Family Room Team, working part-time. She picks up mostly evening and weekend shifts that don't have volunteer coverage, and is building strong relationships with the guest families. She is very knowledgeable about each hospital location and is a great resource to communicate with if any issues or concerns come up!
As the Family Room Associate, CJ is a great addition to our Family Room Team, working part-time. He picks up mostly evening and weekend shifts that don't have volunteer coverage, and is building strong relationships with the guest families. He is very knowledgeable about each hospital location and is a great resource to communicate with if any issues or concerns come up!
On-Call Information
The Family Room has a really wonderful resource for volunteers to utilize, our on-call phone, since the Family Room Staff cannot be in the Family Room's 24/7!
Us Family Room Staff, rotate who is on-call on a weekly basis. The schedule is posted below to get an idea of who you will be talking to when you call, but the on-call phone # always remains the same, regardless of who is on-call:
With the on-call phone number, you must call when you need something because texting is not an option. When you call this #, it forwards to our personal cell phones and text messages do not get forwarded, so will not see your texts. If you don't want to call, emailing is an option:
Although the reasons are limitless, here is a brief list of the reasons you would call the on-call phone:
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You are running late to your shift
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You are calling out within 24 hours of your shift because of an illness, emergency, etc.
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You have a general question during your shift and don't want to email
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The Volunteer computer isn't working
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Special Family Room family circumstances
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An emergency
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Family Room Family Issues
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Etc.
On-Call Contact Info:
Call: 314-930-5292 (do not text)
Email: familyroom@rmhcstl.org
October 29-Nov 3: Cierra West
November 4-10: Courtney Bradshaw
November 11-17: Courtney Fischer
November 18-24: Cierra West
November 25-Dec 1: Courtney Bradshaw
Calling the on-call phone number is the easiest way for you to get ahold of us. PLEASE leave a voicemail if prompted so we can get back to you!
Who We Are
Ronald McDonald Family Room Program
Serving over 27,000 visitors each year, the Ronald McDonald Family Room serves as an oasis within the hospital for families where families can spend time together away from the hustle and bustle of hospital corridors, busy waiting rooms and their child’s room. The Family Room is intended to extend the comfort and support of the Ronald McDonald House, in a hospital setting. The room is open to local, as well as out-of-town, families. Together, the host hospital and RMHC are working to provide this unique service to the families of in-patients.
Ronald McDonald Family Room Volunteer Role
As a volunteer-run program, RMFR Volunteers are here to uphold all Family Room and hospital policies, and to be supportive to the families who use the Room. Our goal is to always create a calming, home like space for all visitors that enter the Family Room.
The Ronald McDonald Family Room would not be able to serve family at the level we do with you as our volunteers. We are grateful for the time and talents that each of you give to the Family Rooms every single day!
What Family Room Families are Saying
Cardinal Glennon Family Room Family
“Thank you so much for providing this area for family. We visited during our sons surgery and it was a great get-away. The volunteers were friendly and offered assistance if needed. The facility was extremely clean and well stocked on supplies. This is a wonderful resource for CG families!”
St. Louis Children's Hospital Family Room
"Having somewhere to go, just to sit for a moment of quiet, while my daughter was in the NICU is something I am very thankful for. I met so many volunteers who welcomed me in the room daily! We were lucky that our stay was only five days, but I can only imagine how important this space is for the families that have a longer journey. Thank you!"
Mercy Children's Hospital Family Room
“I am not sure what my family would have done without this room. We used the laundry, showers, napping space and kitchen often during out daughter's hospitalization. Having these things so close by and in one space was such a blessing for my family and all the families who have a child in the hospital."
The IMPACT You Make
July-September 2024
Numbers represent all Family Room locations combined