The Ronald McDonald Family Room is located on the 5th floor (Pediatric Critical Care Unit) of the Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt. The Family Room is a place where families can come to relax and have something to eat and drink when they feel they just need to walk away from the bedside but still need to be close to their child. Through the FUEL for Families program, we hope to offer an additional service to serve a nutritious meal once a month to every individual with a child being treated at Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt. Because Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt has strict guidelines about serving meals within the hospital, we have found vendors who will work with us to keep costs between $7.50 per person for each meal, or an average of $1,500 per meal.

We hope to provide a nutritious meal at least once a month to an average of 200 individuals whose children are being treated at Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt. Each meal will serve at least 200 individuals who need nourishment as well as the emotional support of taking a break and meeting other families whose children are being treated at Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt. Ultimately, the FUEL for Families program will enable parents and siblings of sick children to be more supportive of their sick relatives. Click here for a FUEL For Families donation form.