Big Brekkie is a fun and easy way to get together with co-workers, family members or friends and make a difference by cooking a hot breakfast for the families staying at Ronald McDonald House. The families who stay with us have a seriously sick or injured child getting urgent medical treatment at the hospital. Parents often spend long hours in the hospital, so the last thing they think about is cooking for themselves and their family. Cooking a Big Brekkie makes their life a little bit easier and gives families a much-needed good start to the day, by filling their bellies.
HOW DOES BIG BREKKIE WORK?
For 365 nights a year, over 600 families will sleep under the roof we’ve provided at Ronald McDonald House, Newcastle. We created this space so we can keep families together while their seriously ill child gets the vital medical treatment they need. They spend hours every day beside their child’s bed, which can be a very stressful experience.
Providing families with nutritious home-cooked food and filling can help take some of the stress away, give the energy families need and offer a much-needed break from the many hours spent in the hospital. Big Brekkie is a chance to get creative and cook the most important meal of the day – breakfast – for the families staying at Ronald McDonald House. After a tour of the House, so you can see the service we offer to keep families together, we’ll provide the kitchen and cooking facilities, you provide the food and enthusiastic chefs.
You don’t need to be a master chef in the kitchen – our families just appreciate the thought that goes into a home-cooked meal. At the end of your cook-up, we invite you to sit down in the dining room and share the meal with the families in the House and our Big Brekkie volunteers.
THE BENEFITS FOR YOUR TEAM
Cooking a Big Brekkie for families at Ronald McDonald House is an unforgettable team-building experience that demonstrates your organisation’s commitment to corporate social responsibility in a meaningful way.
Bring your brand values to life by aligning your organisation with a leading children’s charity that understands the importance of providing family-centred care, and drive greater employee engagement by inspiring staff, building morale and encouraging creativity.
WHAT CAN YOU COOK?
Whatever you like! Parents staying at the House spend long hours in the hospital. Often, the last thing they feel like doing is cooking for themselves and their family. Your Big Brekkie will make life a little bit easier and give families a much-needed break.
Popular breakfast options include bacon and eggs, fruit, yoghurt and muesli, or pancakes. We have everything you need for your creation – a purpose-built kitchen, outdoor BBQ area that is great for bacon and eggs, and even a pancake-making machine.
We usually have 30 people to cook breakfast for, plus your volunteers. Please bear in mind that families in the House go back and forth between the hospital and the House throughout the day and evening. It’s best to cook something that can be reheated should a family miss your breakfast for an early start in the hospital.
WHO CAN PARTICIPATE?
Corporate groups, sports teams, schools, social groups, families, friendship groups – we don’t mind! As there is a lot of preparation, cooking and cleaning involved, we encourage groups of a maximum of eight people per booking.
For safety reasons, please only bring children over the age of 15 to assist in the kitchen.
Many children staying at the House have suppressed immune systems due to the hospital treatment they are receiving. As such, if you or a member of your group is unwell or has come into contact with illnesses like chickenpox, measles, gastro or the common cold, we ask that you do not attend the House.
WHEN CAN YOU COOK?
We invite your group to participate in Big Brekkie on a Saturday or Sunday morning. We ask your group to arrive by 8am so your Big Brekkie service is ready for the families at 9am.
We will roster a Ronald McDonald House volunteer to assist you with the breakfast.
THE IMPACT YOU’LL MAKE
Providing a simple home-cooked meal makes an incredible difference for all of the families that stay at Ronald McDonald House.
Every year we welcome over 600 families into the Newcastle House, providing accommodation and support for travelling families so their child can receive medical treatment close by.
We further support families through our Family Rooms located in the John Hunter Children’s Hospital, providing a much-needed place for families to take a break from the ward. Our Learning Program offers tutoring and educational liaison for children that have missed substantial schooling because of their medical condition. Our Holiday Retreat at Forster gives families the chance to take a well-deserved break and reconnect.
Ronald McDonald House Newcastle is an independent charity that relies on community support and fundraising to deliver our mission to provide quality family centred care to hundreds of families every year.
Your time and contribution will help keep families together at a time when they need it the most.
HOW DO YOU SIGN UP?
Follow the steps below to book your Big Brekkie experience.
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Click the link below to book.
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Choose the date that suits you.
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Make your payment for your Big Brekkie experience. Your donation will go directly towards helping keep families together.
- A member of our team will confirm your booking with you.
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Mark the date in everyone’s calendar so you know when you are booked in for.
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We will send you emails with more information and the next steps for your booking.
We offer other hands-on ways to give back to the families at Ronald McDonald House.
Click on the Lovin’ from the Oven or Meals from the Heart buttons for more information.
