Augie's Drive to Support Ronald McDonald House

The value of having a home away from home during times of stress is enormous. 

The Matthies family of Downers Grove experienced the hospitality of the Ronald McDonald House of Advocate Hope Children’s Hospital twice, and will stay there again in the coming years.

“It’s an amazing organization,” said Joanna Matthies. In order to show their gratitude for the organization that has provided so many families with support, the Matthieses will hold Augie’s Third Annual Drive for Supplies to Support the Ronald McDonald House from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 23, at their home, 4417 Downers Drive.         

Ronald McDonald Houses are designed to keep families close together when a child is receiving medical treatment away from home. At Advocate Hope Children’s Hospital the families of children in pediatric intensive care or the pediatric heart surgical wing are not allowed to stay in the hospital room, Matthies said. The Ronald McDonald House, which is across the street, permits parents to stay close instead of exiled in a hotel. Children receiving treatment away from their home are also allowed to stay at Ronald McDonald House with their families while they’re receiving care.

Augie Matthies, who is now two, was born with a congenital heart defect that required open heart surgery when he was less than two weeks old. He had surgery again last fall, and will face additional operations in years to come. While Augie recovered from his surgeries, Joanna and her husband, David, took turns staying at the Ronald McDonald House while the other parent returned home to care for their other two young sons.

In addition to a private bed and bathroom for each family, the Ronald McDonald House includes a community kitchen, a family room and a playroom for siblings, as well as freshly prepared meals.

"Almost every single evening, a group or organization made or brought over home-cooked meals, so it was amazing," Matthies said. "We’d get a meal and we’d have the opportunity to talk to other families going through the same thing. It’s nice rather than having to sit in the hospital waiting room or lounge. It’s a home atmosphere.” The Ronald McDonald House requests only a $10 per day donation at the end of the stay.

Matthies said last spring her family decided they needed to do something to give back to the Ronald McDonald House for the tremendous service it provides. “We had a Care Pages website and a few hundred followers: family, friends, and friends of friends," she said. "I felt that all of these people would want to do something to help.”

Matthies contacted the Ronald McDonald House staff and told them she wanted to stock up on all of the supplies needed to operate over the course of a year. “They gave me a list of things that they go through and that they rely on donations for,” she said. That was the beginning of what became their annual event.

Matthies said the supplies and money come pouring in. “Last year, we filled our two-car garage to overflowing. We had to rent a box truck to take all of the stuff there,” she said. “I feel like we gave them a large contribution, and I hope it lasted a while.” She already has received items for this year’s drive, which won’t officially occur until Saturday.

In addition to the supply drive, the event will include a lemonade stand and bake sale run by Augie’s two older brothers, Robert, 7, and P.J., 4. “We put out a box for donations and donate to the pediatric surgical heart unit where Augie stayed after his surgery,” Matthies said.

Last year, the $1,200 raised by the boys was used to purchase iPod docking stations for each of the beds in the unit. This year, proceeds will be used to make t-shirts for all of the pediatric patients who have heart surgery. “The shirts will say, Dr. Ibawi Alumn. There will be a picture of a heart with a band aid over it,” she said. Dr. Ibawi is the pediatric heart surgeon at Advocate Hope.

Matthies said she and her family and friends are happy to be able to do what they can to help the Ronald McDonald House. “To have the feeling of being able to go and have an extension of home, right across the street from the hospital is amazing. It’s a comfortable place to sleep, and home-cooked meals and other families to talk to. It all made the process so much easier when Augie was in the hospital,” she said.  

“It’s comforting to know that it was available to us to be there. And to not have to pay for a hotel room every night. It’s an amazing organization.”

Augie's Third Annual Drive for Supplies for The Ronald McDonald House will accept donations of new, unopened cleaning supplies, kitchen utensils, towels, postage stamps, gift cards, and more. For additional information contact joanna@matthiesbuilders.com or visit the Facebook page.