Due to COVID-19, there are currently two ways you can help provide Red Apron meals to families:

1. Volunteering on-site to make a meal. Limited to six volunteers at this time. 
2. Donating a catered meal from your favorite restaurant or catering company.

What is The Red Apron?

The Red Apron offers individuals and small groups an opportunity to provide meals to families staying at the Ronald McDonald House and to parents at the Ronald McDonald Family Room at UAMS, which serves its NICU.

Families staying at the Ronald McDonald House are often far from the comforts of home, including freshly prepared meals. Through The Red Apron, volunteers provide meals for them, allowing them to eat together without the stress of cooking or the expense of dining out.
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The Red Apron volunteers remove the worry and burden of meal prep, grocery shopping, and cost of feeding their family far from home, allowing them to focus on their child in the hospital.​

Currently, The Red Apron prepares dinner each night for 50 people. 

How Does it Work?

To sign up to serve a Red Apron meal:

• Contact Sue at sue@rmhcarkansas.org or 501.374.1956 to confirm the date and number of people to be served
• Create the menu and purchase your ingredients
• Arrive at the House to prepare your meal in time to be served
• Due to COVID-19 safety standards, meals must be individually packaged (we provide “to-go” containers)
  • Meals should be ready and packaged as follows:

THE RED APRON	Dinner	Lunch	​Breakfast
Number of Meals	50	20	20
Hours for Meal Prep	​Cook 1-4 PM	​Cook 10-11:15 AM	​Cook 7-8:15 AM​
Meals Packaged in “To-Go” Containers	​By 4:30 PM	By 11:30 AM	​By 8:30 AM

NOTE: Once you have finished cooking and packaging meals, you can leave the House as soon as you clean up and sanitize the area.

Requirements/Guidelines

• All food must be prepared onsite at the Ronald McDonald House, or in a certified commercial kitchen.
• The kitchen will be available for use from 1:00pm-5:00pm. The evening meal will need to be completed by 4:30pm.
• At this time, a maximum of six individuals will be allowed in the House to cook a meal.
• Masks must be worn at all times. Just like families and staff, you are required to have your temperature taken and answer health questions related to COVID-19. Anyone with a body temperature of 99.5 or higher will be asked to wait in the vestibule for 15 minutes and then have it taken again. If temperature continues to be 99.5 or higher, you will be politely asked to leave. After your wellness screening, you will be asked to go to the Hand Washing station before proceeding further to the kitchen. Hand hygiene is an important infection prevention and control measure. Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds prior to food preparation and frequently during your time in the House.
• Gloves will be furnished; they must be worn at all times during food prep and changed frequently to prevent cross contamination.
• Purchase and prepare enough food for approximately 50 individuals OR prepare food the House has on hand.
• When finished, meals should be packaged in individual “to-go” containers. Food may not be served buffet style.
• All dishes/cookware used must be washed; wash and then sanitize all areas used for meal preparation including any drawer and door handles that were touched.
• Plasticware, cups, napkins and “to-go” trays are provided by Ronald McDonald House.

FAQs

I volunteered at the House to serve a Red Apron meal and later tested positive for COVID-19. Should I let Ronald McDonald House know?

• Any volunteer who tests positive for COVID-19 within 14 days of volunteering should inform us immediately by emailing donna@rmhcarkansas.org. This allows us to take the necessary steps for the safety and well-being of anyone else who may be impacted.

Is there an age limit to volunteer for The Red Apron?

• To ensure the safety of all volunteers, as well as the food safety of the meals being prepared for our families, all Red Apron volunteers must be at least 18 years old.

My volunteer group has more than the maximum number of participants in the guidelines. Can we volunteer together?

• Due to COVID-19 restrictions, we are limiting Red Apron groups to a maximum of six volunteers. If your group includes more than the maximum number of volunteers, please consider dividing your group and providing meals on different dates.

I have extra volunteers or children who want to attend, can they come and watch without volunteering?

• No – everyone in your group should be there to actively volunteer. Children or adults beyond the maximum group size are not able to attend.

Someone in my volunteer group isn’t feeling well. Can they still participate?

• All volunteers must be entirely illness-free and symptom-free for at least 14 days before volunteering. For the safety of families, we will not allow volunteers with an illness or symptoms of any kind to participate at this time.

What is the time commitment for each meal?

• Groups should plan to volunteer for four hours. The exact timing of each opportunity differs based on meal prep time. Please note – groups are required to clean up after preparing the meal, so all volunteers should expect to be at the House until clean-up is complete.

Can I start meal preparation at my home?

• No. To ensure food safety, all preparation must be done at the House. Any food or groceries brought with you must be unopened and unaltered from the time of purchase.
• Catered food is allowed as long as it is prepared in a commercial kitchen and transported directly to the House from the store or restaurant.

Do I need to bring my own dishes, serving utensils, plates, kitchen tools, etc.?

• The House provides all dishes, silverware, and kitchen equipment needed to prepare and serve your meal. However, we always welcome donations of these items. If you have a question about a specific item, please contact Sue at sue@rmhcarkansas.org or call RMHCA at 501.374.1956 .

Can my group get a tour of the House after we volunteer?

• Due to COVID-19 precautions, in an effort to reduce the number of visitors moving through the House, and for the health and safety of the families staying with us, we are not able to offer group tours at this time. Please feel free to take a virtual tour of the House here.

Who should I contact if I have more questions?

• If you have questions about The Red Apron, our current guidelines, or your group’s participation that haven’t been answered above, please contact Sue at sue@rmhcarkansas.org or call RMHCA at 501.374.1956.