“Lifesaver.”
“Game changer.”
“Home away from home.”
hat’s how guests describe the Buffalo House, says Marianne Hoover, executive director of Ronald McDonald House Charities of Western New York. For 40 years, the striking 1895 Colonial Revival house on West Ferry has been a haven for families caring for children in the hospital.
Since 1983, the Buffalo House has hosted more than 21,000 families, providing free lodging, meals, transportation and amenities while guests care for their loved ones. Most come from surrounding counties, but RMHC of WNY serves families from all over the world.
“We try to make the experience as comfortable as possible, because most of the families are coming from extremely stressful situations,” says Alex Gugliuzza, guest services manager. “Oftentimes, they haven’t slept in days, or we’ve had families Mercy Flight-ed in and they forgot their wallet and have nothing. We try to provide everything…so they only have to worry about their children in the hospital.”
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A port in the storm
Heidi Dang recently stayed at the Buffalo House while her 15-year-old brother, Talan, received care at John R. Oishei Children’s Hospital after a skiing accident during a family trip to Ellicottville. A Texas resident, Dang stayed at the house for 11 nights, while other family members also came from Ohio to care for her brother.
“I stayed at the hospital for the first few nights, and it was very difficult. I was stressed out about clothing and where to stay,” says Dang. “Just being able to grab coffee in the morning and some food was really helpful, because we just wanted to go straight to the hospital and not have to make any stops.”
Hoover describes the organization as “staff-run, but volunteer-driven,” and their hospitality left an impression on Dang. Inspired by a longtime volunteer she met during her stay, she and her sister plan to volunteer at their local Ronald McDonald houses.
Dang also enjoyed the Ronald McDonald Family Room on the fifth floor of Children’s Hospital, which offers families a comfortable break from the patient room. Another RMHC of WNY hospital program—the Happy Wheels Cart—brings refreshments, personal items and activities to families at their child’s bedside.
With advances on the medical campus, the need for the Buffalo House and hospital programs has grown, says Hoover. As RMHC of WNY looks ahead, ongoing renovations will make the 127-year-old Buffalo House accessible to all, the home’s playroom will be updated to cater to tween guests (now a more common age group) and the Happy Wheels Cart will expand to Sisters of Charity Hospital.
The staff also looks forward to the post-Covid revival of Meal Makers, presented by Northtown Automotive Companies. A new meal prep kitchen will allow volunteers to prepare food for guests in a separate area before serving.
“We have families going through major issues and challenges,” Hoover says. “We can be there to support, but it’s also about giving them the opportunity to support each other…so they can get through this unimaginable experience and come out on the other side, hopefully in a better situation.” n
RMHC of WNY is 100% community funded, including support from local McDonald’s owners and operators.
