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Meals from the Heart

Meals from the Heart is a weekend volunteer opportunity for friends, families, or coworkers who love to cook and want to give back.

Your group plans, purchases, and prepares a home cooked meal in the Ronald McDonald House kitchen for families staying with us—making this both a volunteer experience and a meaningful in kind donation

How It Works

  1. Gather Your Group – Up to 6 volunteers. Volunteers must be 16+, and groups with 16–17 year-olds need at least one adult.
  2. Plan a Meal – Choose a balanced, family-friendly dinner. Meals must be ready-to-eat, easy to microwave, and keep overnight. Avoid “build-your-own” styles (like taco bars).
  3. Before Your Date – Our Culinary Experience Manager may contact you to check in before your meal.
  4. Shop & Bring Ingredients – Bring all items and store properly beforehand. All food must be prepared on-site; we cannot accept meals that are not cooked in our kitchens.
  5. Cook On-Site – Use our fully stocked kitchens. Allow ~2.5 hours for prep, cooking, serving, and clean-up. Each group makes 60 meals.
  6. Serve Dinner (5–6 p.m.) – Package and label meals, then tidy your station.

Helpful Tips for Planning Your Meal

Thank you for helping nourish our families! Here are a few tips to make your meal planning easier and more nutritious:
  • Aim for variety: Families appreciate options beyond mac & cheese — consider roasted chicken or turkey with vegetables, baked fish, stir-fry, casseroles, meatloaf dinners, or vegetarian-friendly options like stuffed peppers or lentil dishes.
  • Include healthy sides: Add color and nutrition with roasted or steamed vegetables (broccoli, carrots, green beans, Brussels sprouts), whole grains (rice, quinoa, whole-grain bread), or fresh fruit (fruit salad, berries, grapes).
  • Ready-to-serve: Meals must be easy to microwave or keep overnight. Avoid “build-your-own” styles (like taco bars or salad bars), as many families are on-the-go.
  • Ask for help: When in doubt, reach out — our team is happy to answer questions before your meal date.

Cancellation Policy

To change or cancel a reservation more than two weeks prior to your booked meal, please contact us at anoel@RonaldMcDonaldHouseCentralPA.org or (717)533-4001 x158. If you must cancel less than two weeks prior to your scheduled meal service, you may be limited to volunteer in the future. We depend on reliable volunteers to provide a warm meal for healing children and weary parents on their scheduled meal date and time.

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