The Division of Orthodontics Ronald McDonald House Giving Tree

For the past three years the Division of Orthodontics has collected and delivered toys for children who stay at the Twin Cities Ronald McDonald House over the holidays.  Each year, a Division of Orthodontics “Giving Tree” is erected.  It is covered with tags that describe gifts desired by the children.  Faculty and staff choose tags and return wrapped corresponding gifts. "Giving Tree" presents help fill the gap in resources frequently experienced by Ronald McDonald House families during the holidays.   

Ronald McDonald Houses, which are located throughout the country,  provide a home-away-from-home for families with children who have life-threatening illnesses. The Twin Cities Ronald McDonald House can accommodate up to 48 families each night.  The facility includes a common kitchen, dining areas, a classroom for children enrolled in the onsite alternative school and a half-court gymnasium.  According to their website, families come from throughout Minnesota, the United States and around the world to stay there. Thirty-one percent of families who live at the house come from Minnesota, 31% from the surrounding four state area, 34% from other states and 4% from other countries. The average length of stay for families staying for a bone marrow transplant is 158 days. For other families the average length of stay is 28 days.

More information on the Twin Cities Ronald McDonald House