Fundraiser helps local families of ill and injured children

The annual Ronald McDonald House of the Ozarks Share a Heart Campaign kicked off its 33rd year on Jan. 29 at 70 McDonald’s Restaurants in the Ozarks. 

Customers are encouraged to support their local families by adopting paper hearts for $1, $5 or $20. Supporters may enter a social media contest by posting a selfie with their heart(s) on Facebook, @RMHC.Ozarks, for a chance to win one of four $250 Great Southern Bank MasterCard gift cards. 

For 31 days, through the end of February, 100% of Share a Heart proceeds will support families of seriously ill and injured children supported by Ronald McDonald House. To recognize the impact of the Houses on their community members, more than 40 mayors — including Cassville Mayor Jon Horner — in the participating region are being asked to support the campaign by proclaiming February 9-15 “Ronald McDonald House Week” in their towns. McDonald’s of Cassville will proudly participate in the Share a Heart Campaign.

It’s hard to imagine receiving the devastating news of a child’s serious illness or injury. The Ronald McDonald House was built on the simple idea that nothing else should matter when a family is focused on the health of their child. 

Families stay together, near the hospital, and are fully supported during the most difficult times of their lives. Worries about where to sleep and eat disappear and a huge financial burden is lifted. On-site staff is available 24/7. 

On any given night, up to 24 families are staying at Springfield’s two Ronald McDonald Houses, most traveling far from home for medical treatment. The Ronald McDonald House near Cox South Hospital has 14 bedrooms and has welcomed families for over 37 years, and the 10-bedroom Ronald McDonald House at Mercy Kids has helped families for 13 years. 

Houseguests receive meals and snacks, laundry facilities, transportation to hospitals, and support from volunteers and staff who truly care. The most needed and appreciated benefit is families sharing hope, comfort and a true understanding of having an ill or injured child.

More than 17,400 families have benefited from Springfield’s Ronald McDonald Houses, including 882 Barry County families, 207 of which are residents of Cassville. Profiles of families that stayed at the Ronald McDonald House in the past year will be displayed at the local McDonald’s Restaurants, including Cassville’s, owned and operated by Daphne Simpson. For a video tour of both Houses, family testimonials, and more information, visit https://rmhcozarks.org.

Local families’ 

testimonies

The Verde family is one of many from Cassville that has utilized the Ronald McDonald House.

Elizabeth Rose was born in November of 2023, she was diagnosed with Dandy-Walker malformation and hydrocephalus and needed life-saving medical intervention. When she was born, she was taken straight to the NICU, where the doctors and nurses were wonderful in caring for her. 

Elizabeth was on and off life support. battling seizures, and required multiple medications. With so much uncertainty surrounding how long she would need major medical care, the NICU team helped get the Verde family set up at the Ronald McDonald House. 

“The NICU nurses and doctors were absolutely wonderful,” the family’s testimony said. “We ended up staying for almost two months, including all three holidays. Our family is so thankful to have had the Ronald McDonald House as our home away from home. They helped us celebrate Thanksgiving, Christmas. and New Year’s, all while never having to Leave our sweet baby alone-providing for our every need. During such hard and uncertain times, they created comfort. kindness, and joyful spaces for our children.

“Our family will never forget what the Ronald McDonald House did for us. and we will forever be thankful.”

Another are family benefitting from the Ronald McDonald House is the Reece family, of Rocky Comfort.

Jindy Reece’s son, Wyatt, was in an accident that left him on life support for eight days, resulted in a below-the-knee amputation and caused multiple fractures in his leg and back.

“The first three days, we stayed at the hospital in a waiting room,” Jindy Reece said. “We had our other two children with us, along with a host of family and friends. A social worker stepped out and asked if we had thought about staying at the Ronald McDonald House.That was honestly the last thing on our minds. Our social worker helped us apply, and it took us less than an hour to be approved. 

“When we walked into the Ronald McDonald House, we were met with smiling faces. Our children were given gifts, and we were given a change of clothes and new socks. It may seem small, but we hadn’t planned any of this. We didn’t have time to pack. When your child could exit this world at any given moment, you aren’t going to travel anywhere to get extra clothes.”

Reece said the family was shown to their room, and it was extremely comfortable. 

“We were given extra blankets, pillows and toiletries,” she said. “We could actually shower! The next week. we were provided with an amazing dinner every night, along with snacks for our kiddos. In between visiting hours, our younger children could play on the playground or watch movies.”

Reece said the family woke up Easter morning preparing for yet another surgery for Wyatt, not even remembering that it was, in fact, Easter Sunday. 

“When we opened the door to leave, we came face to face with two Easter baskets full of candy, games and bunny rabbits for our two children,” Reece said. “They wouldn’t have had an Easter if it had not been for the Ronald McDonald House. We will forever be grateful to every donor who has helped our family and families like ours. The darkest times of your life are spent there in those hallways. RMH is like a shining light. Thank you so much, Ronald McDonald House, for making the worst days of our lives so much easier.”

The Share a Heart Campaign raised over $116,000 in 2025, helping support 775 families through the Ronald McDonald House program. Donations from the private sector provide 100% of the Ronald McDonald House operating expenses, which exceed $1 million annually.