McHappy Day raised $6343.94 in Estevan for the Ronald McDonald House Charities. The beneficiary this year is Saskatoon's Ronald McDonald House. It is the only one of its kind in Saskatchewan. However, that will be changing soon.
Southeast Saskatchewan was energized yesterday in support of McHappy Day. This comes after it was announced that construction has begun on a new Ronald McDonald House in Regina.
For Bobbi-Jo Davis, the mother of a boy who has had to visit the Saskatoon Ronald McDonald House with 33 visitation nights, a closer stay would be great.
"I think that's awesome because there aren't those services in Regina. There are a lot of pediatric and child care services that are there, and the NICU, and people get displaced. It's very expensive when that happens. When you don't have those supports, it makes it a lot more difficult for people."
The work to get the new facility is just starting up, with a recent hit of funding to the tune of $6.5 million coming from the provincial government.
"I am thrilled that Saskatchewan families will now have the option of staying at a Ronald McDonald Home when they come to Regina seeking medical care for their children," said Health Minister Jeremy Cockrill during the announcement. "At a very stressful time in their lives, families will know they can rely on an affordable place where they feel welcome and cared for, while their child is undergoing medical treatment."
Kelly Humphrey, part of the human resources team with the Ronald McDonald House Charities SK, says expanding to new communities is their biggest goal in Saskatchewan.
"We are building a house in Regina, a 20-bedroom house, and then a 12-room house in Prince Albert. So the need is there. We currently only serve about 28 per cent of the families that need a place to stay in Saskatchewan. So we will then be able to serve more families when we open those houses."
Construction of the Ronald McDonald House Charities Regina has begun as of March and is expected to be completed in early 2027.