From home to cart care, Ronald McDonald House Charities Hawaii has hospitality covered

Ronald McDonald House Charities Hawaii recently launched its Hospitality Cart Program at Kapiolani Medical Center for Women and Children, the organization announced June 13.

The cart, outfitted with snacks, refreshments and activities was created to provide “comfort and support to families with babies in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit,” the announcement noted.

According to emailed responses from RMHC Hawaii President Ed Nishioka, “The Hospitality Cart Program perfectly aligns with RMHC’s mission to create, find and support programs that directly improve the health and well-being of children and their families.”

“The cart offers a much-needed respite for families during what can be a very stressful and challenging time. It brings moments of joy and relief, allowing families to focus on their child’s recovery with a bit more comfort and support,” he continued.

The program “is made possible through a long-standing partnership with the Kapiolani Medical Center,” at no cost to the NICU families, according to the announcement. Nishioka told PBN, “In total, the initial investment was approximately $15,000.” The program’s startup costs included the construction of the cart itself and stocking its shelves, as well as time for training volunteers.

“The program is primarily funded by generous donations from local businesses, individual donors, community grants and through our general fundraising efforts,” he added. “We are grateful for the support of our partners who believe in our mission and the positive impact of the Hospitality Cart Program. Staffing the carts will be handled by a dedicated team of volunteers from RMHC Hawaii, along with our staff members. These volunteers are specially trained to provide compassionate support to families and ensure the cart is a source of comfort and joy.”

PBN asked Nishioka more about bringing this cart concept to life and plans for expansion.

What did it take to bring this idea to life?

Bringing the Hospitality Cart Program to life required a collaborative effort from the RMHC Hawaii team, Kapiolani Medical Center and various community partners. We conducted extensive planning and coordination to ensure the cart would meet the needs of families on the intensive care floor and also that our design would blend in and enhance the area where it is located. This involved the overall designing of the cart, designing the artwork, engineering the functionality, sourcing activities, treats and refreshments, and developing a schedule that would allow us to regularly serve families. Our team also engaged with medical staff to ensure the program aligns with the hospital’s protocols and enhances the patient and family experience. This initiative builds on the success of our first Hospitality Cart Program, which launched last year at Kaiser Permanente Moanalua.

How does this initiative grow RMHC’s mission?

What does this mean for those you serve? For the families we serve, this program means knowing that there is a caring community ready to support them and brighten their day, even in the hospital environment. … The Hospitality Cart Program is especially important because it allows us to serve Oahu families. The majority of the families who stay at our RMCH Hawaii homes are from Neighbor Islands and beyond, so this program helps us extend our reach and support more local families during their time of need.

How can local businesses help?

Local businesses can support the Hospitality Cart Program in several ways. They can provide financial donations to help sustain the program and ensure we can continue offering these services free of charge to families. Businesses can also contribute by donating items such as snacks, beverages, toys and activity supplies. Additionally, they can encourage their employees to volunteer with RMHC Hawaii, providing hands-on support for the cart program. We welcome any partnership opportunities that align with our mission and enhance the program’s offerings. We have some great partners like Diamond Bakery [Hawaii, which] provided us with beloved local snacks to have on the cart. For anyone interested in partnering, please contact our Director of Operations Kanoe Paauhau at .

Do you plan to expand this program elsewhere?

Yes, we do plan to look into expanding our Hospitality Cart Program to other hospitals and medical facilities on Oahu. Our goal is to reach as many families as possible, providing the same level of care and support that we are introducing at Kapiolani Medical Center. We are currently evaluating potential partner sites and seeking additional funding to make this expansion possible. Our vision is to have hospitality carts in multiple locations, extending the reach of our mission and making a positive impact on more families throughout the state.

In addition to expanding to new locations, we are also looking at enhancing our offerings and extending our hours of operation at our existing locations. This includes introducing more diverse activities, increased snack options and additional resources that families might need. By increasing the availability and variety of what our Hospitality Carts provide, we aim to further ease the burden on families during their hospital stays. The program’s expansion builds on the foundation we established with our first cart at Kaiser Permanente Moanalua, where we have already seen significant positive impacts on the families we serve. Through these enhancements and expansions, RMHC Hawaii remains committed to our mission of supporting families and improving their well-being during challenging times.

— Pacific Business News