In early 2019, Jonathan and Holly Fecht were expecting a new addition to their family. But things didn’t go exactly as planned. Their son Noah was born 9 weeks early, sending him to the NICU at HSHS St. John’s Children's Hospital in Springfield, IL. Living more than 2 hours away with no friends or family members in the Springfield area, Jonathan and Holly were not only concerned about their son but where they would stay over the next five weeks. That is until the nurses at the hospital referred them to the Springfield Ronald McDonald House®.

Holly and Jonathan had heard of Ronald McDonald House Charities®, but like many, they were unfamiliar with how we serve families in need until they stayed with us. Holly described the House as a “lifesaver for stress!”, knowing that they would have a home and meals provided to them—at no cost—while their son was getting stronger in the hospital.

We’re happy to report Noah made a full recovery and is a happy, healthy, and active toddler now. But Holly and Jonathan have not forgotten the generous welcome they received at the Springfield House and have become donors, supporting us financially and with in-kind donations.

“We absolutely recommend Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Illinois,” shares Holly. “Not just as a place to stay, but as a charity to support. The direct benefit to families was evident from the level of detail provided in our stay. Every service offered was catered specifically to meet the needs of our family and allowed us to focus on our child and not on other outside stressors. We believe in giving back and supporting those in need. We know what the Houses can provide to families first hand, so it’s an easy choice to add them to our list of organizations we give to annually.”

Want to become an annual supporter of Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Illinois?

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In the face of everything going on, we need your support now more than ever.