The expansion of support for families with hospitalized children is underway as the Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) gears up to open a new facility in DeKalb County, set to double its lodging capacity near the Arthur M. Blank hospital campus. This new Ronald McDonald House, poised to replace the Gatewood House by December 2025, will be the first in the Southeast to share a location with a hospital campus, as reported by FOX 5 Atlanta.
As of now, RMHC is working to secure the final $12 million of the ambitious $90 million capital campaign required to bring the project to fruition, and this new structure is a response to the growing need, where the planned number of rooms jumped from 70 to 11. "This house has grown more than initially expected," Marissa Greider, director of philanthropy at RMHC, explained, citing a 93% increase in demand from families since 2022, which propelled the expedited expansion, as noted by FOX 5 Atlanta.
The need for such a facility has indeed been pressing, and with the recently opened Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta’s Arthur M. Blank Hospital reinforcing this necessity, the ARMHC has experienced a remarkable uptick in services provided to families in crisis: more than 3,000 families served last year, saving them considerable costs that would otherwise be dedicated to lodging, sustenance, and transit, while also providing over 25,000 nights of rest, according to Rough Draft Atlanta.
The proximity of the new Ronald McDonald House to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta’s Arthur M. Blank Hospital is especially critical for families needing close access to their hospitalized children. This facility becomes not just a place to stay but a bastion of community and care for those facing some of life’s most challenging battles. Chris Marinac, chair of the new House development committee, emphasized the significance of local support: "We are calling on Atlantans to join us in our fundraising efforts to keep families together, ensure access to care and provide hope during an extremely challenging time," as mentioned by Rough Draft Atlanta.
