A Bright Spot for Families in Need During the Holidays

In Philadelphia, a local influencer is bringing holiday cheer to families staying at the Ronald McDonald House. Meghan Gallagher, a home decorator and influencer, spent the first week of December transforming the house into a festive space. She decorated Christmas trees and added cozy touches to make the house feel more like home for the 150 families staying there. The Ronald McDonald House provides a place for families of sick children to stay while their loved ones receive treatment. For many of these families, being away from home during the holidays can be tough. Gallagher wanted to bring some joy and nostalgia to the families staying at the house. One of the families staying at the house is Jessica Allen and her 10-year-old son, Gabriel. Gabriel has complex congenital heart defects and has been visiting the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia since he was just 8 days old. The family has spent many holidays at the Ronald McDonald House, including Easter in 2020. This year, they are hoping to be able to go home on Christmas Eve. Allen is grateful for the support and comfort that the Ronald McDonald House provides. She says that the house is built on love and that the workers there feel like family. The house provides a roof over their heads, warm meals, and a cozy atmosphere. While some might think that home decor is frivolous, Laura Van Tassell, the annual giving manager at the Philadelphia Ronald McDonald House, says that it's important to keep the house feeling warm and friendly. The families staying at the house are often going through some of the most challenging times in their lives, and the house wants to be a welcoming space for them to come back to at the end of a hard day. Gallagher's decorations might seem like a small thing, but they can make a big difference for families who are already going through a lot. By bringing some holiday cheer to the Ronald McDonald House, Gallagher is helping to make the holidays a little brighter for families in need.