It’s called “The House That Love Built”… On any given night, 48 families from across Minnesota, the United States, and the world call the Ronald McDonald House of the Twin Cities their home-away-from-home. Families whose children are receiving medical care in the Twin Cities are eligible to stay at the Ronald McDonald House if they have a child, 19 and under, with a life-threatening illness and if their primary residence is greater than 60 miles from the Twin Cities. Families are asked to pay a nominal fee per night, if they are able. However, families are never turned away because of an inability to pay. It is not uncommon for families to live at the Ronald McDonald House for more than six months and it is not unusual for a family to live with us for one full year. The strong sense of community that develops among families living at the Ronald McDonald House is what makes the House special. To build this feeling of community and to lessen the burden of an extended stay away from home, we have developed many unique and innovative programs that encourage and enable families to stay together. Our programs are designed to reduce the financial burdens and increase the opportunities for emotional support during this very difficult time in their lives.