When Jerell Adams’s baby girl, Janae, began a three-month stay in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Bon Secours St. Mary’s Hospital, Jerell’s heart was torn between being home in Petersburg with her then 11-year-old son, Juel, who she describes as a “total mama’s boy,” and spending as much time as she could with newborn Janae.
That’s where Ronald McDonald House Richmond came in. Jerell was able to sleep in the Ronald McDonald House Family Room at St. Mary’s Hospital for several nights, allowing her to be just steps away from her daughter’s hospital room, before moving to the Ronald McDonald House on Monument Avenue. And Juel was able to stay there with her when he wasn’t in school, helping Jerell feel at peace knowing she could support her daughter’s care while also being close to her son.
Jerell appreciated that she could maintain a sense of normalcy for Juel on his visits, using Ronald McDonald House Richmond’s Children’s Museum of Richmond passes and Flying Squirrels baseball game tickets to create happy memories even when their lives were upended by Janae’s difficult medical journey. Ronald McDonald House Richmond staff even surprised them both by decorating their room and getting a cake for Juel’s birthday, giving a grateful boy the celebration he deserved.
Ronald McDonald House Richmond played other key roles in what became Jerell and Juel’s 101-night stay at the House. From her home in Petersburg, Jerell would not have had the ability to easily visit Janae. But with Ronald McDonald House Richmond providing transportation to the hospital, all it took was a simple request for a ride, and she was with her daughter in a matter of minutes.
Stories like Jerell’s are common among families receiving pediatric care across the Greater Richmond Region. For 46 years, Ronald McDonald House Richmond has served as a beacon of hope for families as they care for their children experiencing a medical crisis. In 2025, Ronald McDonald House Richmond provided nearly 3,300 nights of housing to families receiving pediatric care and welcomed over 21,500 day-visitors into their hospital program spaces.
Ronald McDonald House Richmond’s programs address the needs of the entire family when a child is in the hospital, removing barriers to pediatric healthcare and handling everyday burdens so that their focus can be where it matters most: their child’s care. In Jerell’s words, “The Ronald McDonald House made it so much easier and more peaceful for me to get through my journey. It gave me the opportunity to focus on my daughter.”
During Jerell’s stay at the House, she recalls the relief she felt knowing that there would be a meal available to her — both through the Ronald McDonald House Family Room at St. Mary’s Hospital as well as when she returned to the Ronald McDonald House after a long day of caring for her baby girl. In 2025, Ronald McDonald House Richmond provided over 30,000 meals to families like Jerell’s, saving them the time, effort, and money that would be spent preparing or paying for meals. The comfort of a readily available meal gives families the fuel they need to face their child’s medical situation.
The organization’s program spaces offer more than material items. They also provide a comforting space where families can take a break from the hospital environment and find strength in a shared sense of community. Jerell remembers making connections with other families in the House who she’s remained in touch with since her stay. “I know that everyone that enters the door is here for a reason. They’re here for a purpose,” she says.
As Richmond’s hospital systems continue to invest in pediatric care, the demand for Ronald McDonald House Richmond’s programs is growing at an unprecedented pace. To meet this need, the organization launched their $40 million capital campaign, “Together, Hope is Closer,” to build a new Ronald McDonald House in historic Jackson Ward.
This transformative project will move the organization from its current 9-bedroom House on Monument Avenue to a thoughtfully designed House featuring 32 rooms in its first phase, with the potential to expand to 67 rooms as the needs of families and the community continue to grow. With plans to break ground in 2027, the new House will allow Ronald McDonald House Richmond to serve significantly more families and provide the comfort, support, and sense of home they need while their children receive critical medical care.
How You Can Support Ronald McDonald House
Community members can help Ronald McDonald House Richmond cross items off of their Holiday Wish List by donating snacks, activities, and toys for families receiving pediatric care in hospitals across the Greater Richmond Region. Learn more about how you can support at RonaldMcDonaldHouseRVA.org.
