Just in time for the holidays, Overland Park Regional Medical Center and Ronald McDonald House Charities of Kansas City recognized SCHEELS on December 21 for a very special and surprise purchase.

The staff at the Ronald McDonald Family Room at Overland Park Regional Medical Center learned that the entire Amazon Wish List they developed — including items necessary to provide a safe, comforting and hopeful environment for families — was purchased by SCHEELS in early December.

“SCHEELS loves supporting the greater Kansas City community in many ways throughout the year,” says Becca Ross, marketing and events coordinator at SCHEELS. “When we saw Overland Park Regional Medical Center’s Facebook post that listed the Amazon Wish List for Ronald McDonald Family Room at the hospital, we immediately wanted to spread holiday cheer. The list had many practical items, so we loved purchasing everything.”

The Amazon Wish List that SCHEELS purchased included home goods and kitchen items, among others, to complement the home-like environment of the Ronald McDonald Family Room at Overland Park Regional Medical Center.

Ronald McDonald House Charities of Kansas City (RMHC-KC) expanded across the state line to Overland Park Regional Medical Center in February 2022. “Having a Ronald McDonald Family Room onsite at the hospital is a critical part of the healing process, providing peace of mind during a family’s most vulnerable time,” says Overland Park Regional Medical Center CEO Matt Sogard, FACHE. “When parents are faced with the stress of having their baby or child in the hospital, we do everything possible to improve their experience, while providing high-quality, compassionate healthcare to their tiny loved one. To learn that the list was purchased by SCHEELS was a wonderful surprise, and something that brought smiles to many families.”

The need for families to be steps away from Overland Park Regional Medical Center’s neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), which accommodates 60 babies, and the pediatric unit which accommodates eight children, is critical to the recovery process. The Ronald McDonald Family, for families with sick babies or children in the NICU or PICU, includes four sleeping rooms, spacious kitchen and dining room, and a large living room.

During a December 21 event to recognize SCHEELS’ generous purchase for the Ronald McDonald House Family Room at Overland Park Regional Medical Center, Ross announced that SCHEELS will match $25,000 in donations to Ronald McDonald House Charities of Kansas City, whether a cash donation or an Amazon Wish List.

"SCHEELS is the epitome of showing up for their community in a huge way,” says Ronald McDonald House Charities of Kansas City CEO Tami Greenberg. “First, by helping families in our Ronald McDonald Family Room by buying our ENTIRE wishlist for that location, and now by extending that generosity to offer an amazing match of $25,000. We are enormously thankful to SCHEELS for wrapping their arms around this charity and our community."

Donations to the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Kansas City are still needed, especially during the winter months when more children are hospitalized during the spike in illnesses. Whether it is a cash donation, or a business interested in the opportunity to make an impact on the lives of families during a vulnerable time, these donations help meet the most urgent needs of both local Houses. These donations are tax deductible as allowed by law. For more ideas on how you can make a difference for families, please visit Ronald McDonald House Charities of Kansas City website.

Overland Park Regional Medical Center — home to a Level III NICU, Pediatric Emergency Room, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, and Johnson County’s only Level II Trauma Center — is part of HCA Midwest Health, Kansas City’s largest healthcare provider.

Photo: Mary Bianchi, OPRMC ACNO; Matt Sogard, FACHE OPRMC CEO; Becca Ross, Marketing and Events Coordinator, SCHEELS Overland Park; Tami Greenberg, CEO Ronald McDonald House Charities of Kansas City