Cooking4Families Program

Happiness is Homemade!
Ronald McDonald House Charities Ireland Icon Home Cooked Meals

Kitchens are the heart of any home and The Ronald McDonald House is no exception thanks to programmes like the Cooking4Families Program that help to bring people together.

Our families look forward to a home cooked meal after a long day at the hospital.  We welcome individuals and groups who wish to prepare a dinner meal for our families every day of the week.

Your group will plan the menu, purchase the food, cook, serve the meal and clean the kitchen afterwards.

Once you have picked an open date and what time you’d like to serve, contact us with the information and a group name in order to confirm your request.

It’s that simple!

Frequently Asked Questions about our Cooking4Families Progam.

All meals are prepared at Ronald McDonald House. We have all cooking and serving needs catered for.

Please bring face masks as they need to be worn at all times in the house during your visit.

There is no need to bring anything else other than food and a good attitude!

Please plan a menu and shop for all ingredients ahead of time. Please let us know your menu one week in advance so we can insure variety for our families.

Groups should arrive at 10.00 am if they are preparing lunch. Lunch should be ready for 12-1pm. 

If possible meals should include a main course and dessert.

No, but please ask all group members to have hair pulled back while cooking. Gloves are available at the House. Please, if you or a member of your group is not feeling well do not come in to volunteer.

All volunteers must be at least 14 years old and supervised by an adult if under 18 years.

Please bring no more than 6 volunteers for both preparation & clean up.

Please plan to serve 30 people. 

If you need to cancel please call as soon as possible!

Menu Suggestions

Comfort Foods are the most popular!
  • Chicken dishes; baked, grilled, stuffed, fried, families love chicken!
  • Baked ham and cheesy potatoes, baked potato bar
  • Roast pork or roast beef dinners. Hot roast beef or hot turkey sandwiches
  • Lasagne, pasta bakes, spaghetti & meatballs
  • Homemade pizzas, chicken fingers, french fries & antipasti
  • Casseroles & stews
  • Soups & sandwiches, subs – “you can make a sub bar”
  • Taco bar or fajitas