To help create a warm, comfortable living space for families with children receiving hospital treatment, especially during the holidays, Almo Corporation (#AlmoGivesBack), a leading independent distributor of appliances, consumer electronics, Pro A/V equipment and housewares, has provided a total of 23 major appliances to the Ronald McDonald House (RMH) in Philadelphia. The appliances are part of a significant expansion by which RMH is tripling its capacity through the construction and renovation of a new housing tower in Philadelphia.
The appliances donated by Almo have been placed in three different areas of the tower:
- A patient-protected floor for post-bone marrow patients and their families. This floor contains eight suites with private kitchenettes for longer stays and for those families with immunocompromised patients.
- A lounge on the same floor with a small cooking area so families can get out of their rooms into a restricted community environment.
- The family kitchen, which is a small kitchen and storage area for families to prepare their own meals if preferred.
“As parents, our greatest concern is the wellness of our children – and if they are faced with long-term illnesses, there’s nothing we want more than to be near them and to create a sense of stability while they receive treatment and heal,” explained Warren Chaiken, president and CEO for Almo Corporation. “Our hope in donating these appliances is to make the stay for these families more comfortable and more convenient, so they have the ability to spend some quality time together, even if they are not at home. If we can positively impact the lives of these children and their families during their stay in Philadelphia, then we feel we have been successful.”
Chaiken noted that in an Almo company-wide poll, childhood illness was a cause that employees felt strongly about championing. As a result, all Almo offices across the nation are engaged in philanthropic activities to benefit local RMH facilities and to give back to their communities.
According to Susan Campbell, CEO of the Philadelphia Ronald McDonald House, “Guest families at the Philadelphia Ronald McDonald House often stay for extended periods of time and helping to bring a sense of normalcy to their lives is one of our top priorities.” She continued, “Almo’s generous donation of appliances for our family kitchen and in the rooms for our immunocompromised guests have allowed us to provide a more home-like environment for these families.”
“Me, my 12 year year-old son, Javier, and 20 year-old son, Jason, have been at the House since the beginning of March,” said Jennifer F., one of the guests at the Philadelphia Ronald McDonald House. “Jason has Cystic Fibrosis and required a double-lung transplant. The House has been a blessing to our family and we fire up the family kitchen almost every night.”
“Our family has been living at the Ronald McDonald House for several months,” said Mike C., another guest who is staying with his wife, Emily, and his son, Jack. “One of the things we miss most about our home in Virginia is cooking and eating family meals together. The appliances on the second floor allowed us to make our favorite chili recipe together and enjoy eating it while watching football on a Sunday afternoon.” He added, “The refrigerators in the rooms are also so important to our family. Jack takes many medicines, some of which need to be refrigerated. We also use them for Jack’s favorite perishable snacks. Jack’s immune system is severely compromised so everything he uses must be thoroughly cleaned daily and we must eat all of our meals in the room. The dishwasher allows us to relax as a family in the evening rather than cleaning everything by hand.”
Almo Appliances Donated: The appliances in the patient-protected suites include:
- Eight 24-inch front load, stainless steel dishwashers
- Eight standard size refrigerator/freezers with vertical doors in stainless steel
The appliances in the patient protected lounge include:
- One 24-inch front load stainless steel dishwasher
- One residential four-burner stainless steel gas stove
The appliances in the family kitchen include:
- Five residential four-burner stainless steel gas stoves
