Plan to cook or order for about 35–40 people, supporting families staying in both our Ronald McDonald House and Ronald McDonald Family Room.

Meal Times:
🥪 Lunch – 12:00 PM
🍽 Dinner – 6:00 PM
🍳 Weekend Brunch – 11:00 AM

* If you’re joining us for Make-A-Meal, plan to arrive a couple hours earlier to prep your meal and stay about an hour afterward for cleanup and a few high-fives.

Your team will plan the menu and purchase the ingredients — if purchasing is not an option but you still want to Make-A-Meal, our pantry is stocked with ingredients that are available and free for you to use! You can coordinate with Amanda to visit the House beforehand and choose your ingredients from the pantry. On the day of, just bring yourselves, your ingredients, and your willingness to serve—everything else falls into place from there!

Our chef’s kitchen is fully equipped with all the essentials to help you prepare a great meal. You’ll have access to standard appliances like a stove, oven, microwave, refrigerator, grill, and dishwasher. We also provide cooking utensils, pots, pans, and some limited specialty equipment like slow cookers and blenders.

We often have basic pantry staples on hand—such as oil, canned goods, and spices—but availability can vary. If you’re hoping to use any of these items, we recommend reaching out to our Family Services team at 509-624-0500 a few days in advance to check on what’s available.

Absolutely! We welcome people of all ages to be part of the experience and help bring comfort to our families. That said, for safety reasons, children 16 and under must be accompanied by an adult during meal preparation and service. It’s a wonderful opportunity for families to volunteer together and make a meaningful impact.

Groups of 2–5 people tend to work best in the kitchen, but we can often accommodate larger groups too! If you have a larger team, you can choose to split into two groups — one group prepares the meal while the other helps with projects around the House. It’s a great way to make the evening extra special for the families we serve! Reach out to our Volunteer & Outreach Manager, Amanda Louise, to share your group size and we’ll help you plan something meaningful.

When you arrive, a friendly staff member or volunteer will greet you at the door and help you bring in any groceries or supplies. From there, you’ll head into the kitchen to start cooking! Feel free to ask questions at any time—someone from our team will be available to support you throughout your visit.

As you cook, you’ll likely see families and children coming through the kitchen or common spaces. We encourage you to say hello and connect with them—your presence brings warmth beyond just the meal.

When dinner is ready, you’ll set up the meal buffet style, and if you’d like, you’re welcome to stay and eat alongside the families. The families will have their own plates and utensils to use, so no worries there. We ask that you clean up as much as you can before you go (don’t worry—a staff member will be there to assist with anything left over). We also love capturing these meaningful moments, so be ready for a photo or two if you’re comfortable!