Family Dinner Programme

At Ronald McDonald House South Island we aim to provide an environment to aid all types of healing. For families often it is from shared experience that they derive the greatest strength. It is also important that the whole family stays well and healthy, and so the Family Dinner Programme has been devised - providing healthy, stress-free meals while encouraging families to open up and spend time with others. Your company, group or organisation can help families heal by volunteering for the Family Dinner Programme.

How does it work?

  • The expectation is to provide a two course meal ie. main and dessert
  • The aim is for your group to use your contacts to source ingredients
  • If seeking donated items for your Family Dinner Programme, do check with us first as the donor may already support our House
  • Contact Front of House to pre-book your evening. We do have regular providers so have a few date options in mind
  • When planning a meal work on catering for 30-40 people (including your group)
  • Please consider a vegetarian option when considering your menu choices
  • Avoid too hot and spicy foods
  • Some suggestions; Bacon and Egg Pie, Vegetarian Quiche, Lamb/Chicken Cassroles, "Theme Nights" ie. Italian, Mexican
  • Plan to have the meal ready for 6pm
  • It is a health requirement that all food preparation is done on-site as no food can be brought in unless frozen
  • Some families will not be back from the hospital until later in the evening. As a rule a meal is saved for them
  • Your group sits down with the House guests and dines with them. This encourages discussion away from health. The families really enjoy the opportunity for normal conversation
  • At the end of the meal it is your responsibility to clean the dining room, set the dishes washing in the dishdrawers, hand wash heavier cooking equipment and clean the kitchen, wipe benches, sweep and mop the floors
  • Realistically it can be all over by 7.30pm
  • Generally alcohol is not encouraged except for special occasions. Please contact the Front of House to discuss

All sorts of groups join in the Dinner Programme, from school children to service groups and corporate management teams. It's a great team-building exercise and a wonderful way to help.

Our thanks goes to the following groups and organisations for their involvement in our Family Dinner Programme:

Addington Events Centre, AIR NZ HER Support Group, Animal Control, Anthony Harper Lawyers, ANZ, National Bank (Commercial), ASB, Avis/Budget, AXA, BNZ -Private Banking, Brannigans, Body Shop, Belgium Beer Café, CBS Canterbury, CBS Canterbury - Ashburton, Caring Cookies from Housing NZ, CDHB, Chevron, Christchurch Central Rotoract, Christchurch City Council, Christchurch Hospital Speech Language Therapist, Cherry's Early Learning Centre, Deloitte, Family Affair, Goldman Sachs JB Were, Gough Finance, Grace Vineyard, Harcourts Four Seasons, Halswell Baptist, Hewitt, Holiday Inn, Hydro Grass, I A G N Z Ltd, International Healthcare Ebos Group, Jo Mason-Seiver, Leeston Catholic Ladies Group, Lincoln Hospitality, Liz Carr, Lyttelton Port Co, Luma Phal, Lonestar, Mars NZ, Mason-Sievers, Maurice Woodham, McDonalds Sydenham, Manufacturing Supplies Ltd (MSL), Mediterranean Shipping Company, Meridan Energy, Miles Toyota, Mondo Travel, National Bank Colombo St, National Bank Syd, Natural High, NZI, OfficeMax, Pacific Blue, Post Haste, Price Waterhouse Coopers, Rangiora Lions, Rangi Ruru Girls' School, Riccarton Lions Club, Roast Chicken Dinner ladies, Selwyn Rural Womens, Selwyn Lions Club, Rangiora Soropotimist Group, Sign Tech, Spreydon Baptist Church, St Patricks, St Albans Baptist Church, St Margaret's College, State Insurance, Sunrise Rotary, Switched on Group, Tait Electronics, Tait Finance Division, Telecom, Timaru Rotary, The Monday Night Ladies (Formerly TVNZ), Urology Department, Urology Associates Ltd, Whalley, Wednesday Quartet, Westpac New Brighton, Westpac Transactions and Whitebait TV.

For more information about the Family Dinner Programme, email our staff on This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it