The mission of Ronald McDonald House Charities is to reduce the burden of childhood illness on children and their families. We accomplish this this by keeping families close to their sick children and the care they need. This includes: Creating a caring and uplifting environment Providing comfortable lodging convenient to a health facility Undertaking resource and fund development activities that support our facilities, programs and services Leveraging community partnerships with affiliated programs that comfort and assist children with health concerns and their familiesThe five Ronald McDonald House Charities programs in Kansas City are:Bernstein House (2501 Cherry), opened in 1988: 19 bedroomsThe Family Room (inside Children's Mercy Hospital), opened in 1997: 7 bedroomsLongfellow House (2502 Cherry), opened in 2006: 41 bedroomsWylie House (2525 Cherry), opened in 2015: 20 bedroomsThe Family Room inside Overland Park Regional Medical Center, opened in 2022: 4 bedroomsOn any given night, Ronald McDonald House Charities of Kansas City serves 91 families with sick children. When a child is diagnosed with a serious illness, families face emotional distress, financial strains and many other devastating consequences. Because of Ronald McDonald House Charities, families are not forced to spend their days and nights in a crowded waiting room or in the isolation of expensive hotel rooms. Instead, they come “home” to our Houses and Family Room and find a friendly face, a home-cooked meal, a comfortable bed, a hot shower and a calming place to rejuvenate. Instead of focusing on these worries, families can be close to their medically fragile child.