Ronald McDonald House Southern Appalachia

10/01/2026

A Place of Comfort, a Family That Gives Back: The Honakers’ Story

When baby Lacy arrived earlier than expected in January 2025, the Honaker family found themselves navigating an uncertain and challenging time. For 22 days, Kade, Leann, and big brother Levi called Ronald McDonald House Southern Appalachia home while their family welcomed their newest addition.

During their stay, the Honakers found more than a place to rest. They found a community of people ready to offer encouragement, meals, supplies, prayers, and support when they needed it most.

For Leann, those moments have never faded.

“The memories are just as clear today as they were in January 2025 when we stayed with you all,” she shared.

Last December, the family returned to celebrate Lacy’s first birthday by bringing donations to the House that had cared for them. It was a meaningful way to mark a special milestone while giving back to a place that had become part of their family’s story.

Today, as Lacy approaches her second birthday and big brother Levi turns four, the Honakers continue to support Ronald McDonald House Southern Appalachia and its mission to keep families close during a child’s medical journey.

Reflecting on their experience, Leann expressed gratitude for everyone who makes the House possible.

“The Ronald McDonald House, all of you who work there, and everyone who supports this house are gifts from the Lord. I didn't take lightly the presence of God that I felt when we were there.”

She also shared her excitement about finding more ways to give back, adding that she looks forward to supporting the House in the future.

Stories like the Honakers’ remind us that the impact of Ronald McDonald House extends far beyond the days a family spends under our roof. The kindness shared during a difficult season can stay with a family long after they return home.

We are so grateful to the Honaker family for allowing us to be part of their story and for continuing to share that same kindness with other families walking a similar path.

Because when a child is in the hospital, family stays. And we stay with them.

09/29/2026

What a day. What a community. What an impact.

Thank you to everyone who made the 2026 Tennessee Golf Classic such a special day for Ronald McDonald House Southern Appalachian.

To our sponsors, golfers, volunteers, donors, auction bidders, McDonald’s Owner/Operators and teams, committee members, staff, and everyone who gave their time, resources, and energy - we are incredibly grateful for you.

Because of your support, families with children in medical care can have something they desperately need during an incredibly difficult time: a place to stay close together.

From the first tee shot to the final bid, you showed up for families. And that means more than we can say.

Thank you for helping us keep families close. ❤️

When a child is in the hospital, family stays. And we stay with them.

09/29/2026

🚨 LAST CHANCE TO BID! 🚨

The Ronald McDonald House Southern Appalachian Golf Classic Auction closes TONIGHT at 10 PM EST!

There’s still time to bid on incredible items, including:
🥃 Premium bourbon & fine w**e
🎸 Autographed Dolly Parton memorabilia
🏌️ Golf foursomes & unforgettable golf experiences
🔪 Collectible knives
🎁 Unique local experiences and more!

Every bid helps provide a place to stay, meals, and support for families with children in medical care.

⏰ Auction closes at 10 PM EST TONIGHT.

Don’t wait until the final minutes - place your bids now!
👉 BID NOW:

When a child is in the hospital, family stays.

09/27/2026

Our Fall Auction is packed. ⛳️

We’ve got something for golfers, bourbon fans, tech lovers, fragrance collectors, DIYers, and just about everyone in between.

A few of the items waiting for you:

• Limited-edition PING golf headcovers
• Premium Benchmade and Case XX collectibles
• A Shark Chill Pill cooling system
• $599+ in automotive maintenance services
• A Spider 5-in-1 wireless charging station
• Ariana Grande Thank U, Next
• Juicy Couture fragrance
• Bourbon, w**e & ch*****ne
• And plenty more

The best part? Every bid helps provide a place to stay and support for families with children receiving medical care.

The auction is OPEN! Check out the items, place your bids, and help make sure families never have to face a medical crisis alone.

https://givebutter.com/c/RMH-fall-auction

09/26/2026

🍂 The Fall Auction is OPEN! 🎉

Our online auction is officially live, with great items up for grabs, and every bid helps families with children in medical care stay close when they need each other most.

From unique experiences and local favorites to some seriously fun prizes, there’s something for everyone. Start browsing, place your bids, and check back often!

🛍️ Auction closes 10pm EST Monday, September 28

Your bid can help provide a room, a meal, and a place to call home for a family facing a child’s medical crisis.

👉 Bid now: givebutter.com/c/RMH-fall-auction

Thank you for supporting children and families in medical care. ❤️

09/26/2026

🍂 The Fall Auction is OPEN! 🎉

Our online auction is officially live, with great items up for grabs, and every bid helps families with children in medical care stay close when they need each other most.

From unique experiences and local favorites to some seriously fun prizes, there’s something for everyone. Start browsing, place your bids, and check back often!

🛍️ Auction closes 10pm EST Monday, September 28

Your bid can help provide a room, a meal, and a place to call home for a family facing a child’s medical crisis.

👉 Bid now: givebutter.com/c/RMH-fall-auction

Thank you for supporting children and families in medical care. ❤️

When a child is in the hospital, family stays.

09/25/2026

A little movement around the House this week. ❤️

Over the past week, four families have packed their bags and headed home.

That also means we’ve welcomed four new families through our doors.

We may not know every detail of their stories yet, but we know this: each family arrived with a child receiving medical care, and each one needed a place to stay close together.

That’s what Ronald McDonald House is here for.

A room. A warm meal. A comfortable place to sleep. A place to take a breath. A place where families can stay together when their child needs them most.

Four families went home this week.

Four new families arrived.

And we’ll be here for them, just like we’ve been here for families for 30 years.

09/24/2026

Kids Helping Kids Get Better. ❤️

That’s exactly what happened when some very special kids from Central Baptist Church stopped by Ronald McDonald House recently.

They brought stuffed animals to help children staying with us feel a little more comfortable and a little more at home during their medical journeys.

They also brought pull tabs to help us continue providing a home away from home for families with children in medical care.

We love seeing young people learn that they can make a difference for other kids, even in small ways. A stuffed animal can bring comfort. A bag of pull tabs can help provide a meal, a room, or another night together for a family.

Thank you, Central Baptist Church, for teaching your kids the joy of helping others and for helping us remind children that they are never alone.

Kids Helping Kids Get Better. ❤️

09/24/2026

For the Sutherland family, Ronald McDonald House Southern Appalachia became so much more than a place to stay. It became home during one of the hardest seasons of their lives.

When twin girls Adelynn Faith and Valley Noelle were born early and needed to stay in the NICU, their family’s world suddenly revolved around hospital rooms, monitors, care times, and prayers that their tiny girls would continue to grow stronger.

They were grateful for the medical care their daughters were receiving, but they were also trying to navigate life with two babies in the NICU while being hours away from home and their other children.

That’s where Ronald McDonald House came in.

Instead of worrying about where they would sleep, how they would afford a hotel, where they would eat, or how they would make it through each day, the Sutherlands had a safe place to return to after long hours at the hospital.

They had somewhere to breathe, shower, rest, make a meal, gather themselves, and feel a little bit normal again.

Most importantly, they had a sense of home when their own home felt so far away.

The Sutherlands shared special gratitude for our Resident Manager, Cindy, whose care and compassion helped them through those difficult days.

“You weren’t simply managing a house, you were helping families get through some of the hardest days of their lives.”

They also wanted to recognize PJ, one of our weekend managers, whose kindness and willingness to help made a lasting impression on their family.

Sometimes it’s the smallest things that stay with us: a warm conversation, a helping hand, a smile, or simply knowing someone is there when you need them.

The Sutherlands told us:

“Our girls may not remember the NICU or the little room we stayed in, but we will. We will remember the people who helped us. We will remember the kindness. We will remember the feeling of coming back to the House after a long day at the hospital and knowing we had somewhere safe to go.”

One day, Adelynn Faith and Valley Noelle will hear the story of how little they were, how hard they fought, and all the people who helped their family along the way.

We are honored that Ronald McDonald House Southern Appalachia will always be part of that story.

Thank you, Sutherland family, for allowing us to be part of your journey and for sharing your story with us. ❤️

And thank you to every employee, volunteer, donor, meal provider, and supporter who makes moments like these possible. Because when a child is in the hospital, family stays. And we stay with them.

09/24/2026

A little comfort can mean so much when a child is facing a medical journey.

The sisters of Alpha Delta Pi- East Tennessee State University recently spent time supporting Ronald McDonald House families and helping us provide comfort to children and parents who may be spending far too much time thinking about hospitals, appointments, treatments, and uncertainty.

Their willingness to show up for families in our community is a beautiful reminder that support doesn’t always have to be complicated. Sometimes it looks like giving your time, bringing a little joy, and reminding a family that their community cares.

Thank you, ADPi at ETSU, for helping us make the House a place where families can find comfort when they need it most.

09/21/2026

As we recognize this September, we're thinking of the NICU families supported by Ronald McDonald House programs around the world ❤️

Families like baby Grayson's.

Grayson was born early at 33 weeks and needed immediate surgery and specialized care. For nearly a month while Grayson was in the NICU, his parents, Paige and Jordan, stayed just steps away at Ronald McDonald House Louisville

"Being at Ronald McDonald House allowed us to be with Grayson in the NICU as much as possible," Paige says. "It was the biggest blessing to us on our journey."

09/18/2026

“The facility allowed us to stay focused on our son’s needs while still giving him the chance to enjoy being a child.” - The McHugh Vasquez Family

Jeremy, Jessica, and their three children stayed at Ronald McDonald House Atlanta for over 60 nights while their son participated in a feeding therapy program nearby.

When families can stay close, they can focus on what matters most: caring for and supporting one another throughout their child’s medical journey.

09/15/2026

When you're navigating your child's medical journey, everyday activities like getting a haircut can fall to the bottom of the priority list.

At Ronald McDonald House Tampa Bay, Inc., Olivia and her team helped families get back-to-school ready with fresh haircuts. We're grateful to community members like Olivia who give back in meaningful ways, helping families feel supported and experience moments of normalcy during challenging times.

08/31/2026

Once a Ronald McDonald House Family, always a Ronald McDonald House Family. ❤️

While Harlow and Hadley were in the NICU, the Rardon family found comfort and support at Ronald McDonald House Charities of Mid-Missouri. Now, the twins have made it a tradition to give back by volunteering at the House each year, even spending part of their birthday this year packing lunches and preparing a meal for families staying at the House.

Thank you, Harlow and Hadley!

08/26/2026

For families navigating their child’s healthcare journey, comfort can come in many forms. This , we're celebrating the special friends who bring a sense of calm, companionship, and plenty of smiles to Ronald McDonald House programs around the world.

08/18/2026

At Ronald McDonald House, families can stay together and continue making memories along the way.

From Bingo night at Ronald McDonald House Southwest Ohio, to a visit to the ballpark at Ronald McDonald House Maryland, to a family picnic at Ronald McDonald House Chicago, these special moments bring families together and create lasting memories while staying close to the care they need.

08/13/2026

Summer days call for a sweet treat! 🍦

When a child is receiving medical care, moments like sharing an ice cream, enjoying a summer activity, or simply spending time together can mean so much.

At Ronald McDonald House, families can hold onto these moments, all while staying close to the care their child needs.

08/10/2026

“It is not just the House that provided us with a sense of home – it was the people,” says Shawna.

When the Roy family’s daughter, Carly, was in the NICU, her family stayed at Ronald McDonald House South Central Ontario, surrounded by a community of support while their daughter was receiving medical treatment.

For families like the Roys, Ronald McDonald House becomes more than a place to stay. It's a place of comfort and connection and a reminder that they’re not alone.

07/29/2026

When a child is receiving medical care, even simple routines can take on a whole new meaning.

At Ronald McDonald House, families can hold on to the routines and comforts of home while staying close to the care their child needs.

07/27/2026

At Ronald McDonald House, it’s the small, in-between moments that often mean the most. Whether it’s time to play outside or to enjoy the fresh air together, these moments provide comfort and a sense of normalcy when families need it most ❤️