Montana: Remember to “Round Up” at McDonald’s for a Great Cause

For decades now, most McDonald's locations have had the donate-your-change slot at the drive-through, where customers can drop their change for charity. All of those nickels, dimes, pennies, and quarters add up to millions of dollars, which end up at local Ronald McDonald Houses, including our two in Montana.

Read More: Montana's Health Premiums To Surge - What You Need To Know

What are Ronald McDonald Houses, you ask?

Across the country, almost every larger city has a Ronald McDonald House. There are 260+ Ronald McDonald Houses in the United States, and around 370 of them worldwide. Montana has two, one in Billings and one in Missoula.

Launched in 1974 with the first Ronald McDonald House in Philadelphia, most of these "houses" are really more like a full-service hotel. They provide free temporary accommodations for parents and families seeking medical care away from home.

Ronald McDonald houses are much more than a place to stay.

Ronald McDonald Houses are always located near the hospital, complete with home-cooked meals, private bedrooms, and the support of staff and other families. They're much more than a place to sleep and eat.

Ronald McDonald Houses are a sanctuary for parents who are going through some of their most challenging times in life. Spending all day next to your child's hospital bed is hard on your emotional state.

Beeping alarms, doctors, nurses, and medical teams flowing through your room, uncertainty, hospital cafeteria food, missing work, travel expenses, hard floors, and tears... it all takes a toll.

In 2019, McDonald's launched the "round up" program.

The biggest fast food company in the world realized that many people rarely carry/use cash, instead opting to pay with their card or Apple Pay. They rolled out the Round Up for RMCH initiative, allowing customers to round up their total to the nearest dollar.

Get our free mobile app

Some McDonald's locations remember to ask if you'd like to round up when you've placed your order at the drive-through, but I've noticed that they often seem to forget. If they do, please consider telling them you'd like to round up before pulling forward.

Forever grateful for the Ronald McDonald Houses.

Disclosure: My family stayed at the Ronald McDonald House in Salt Lake City for nearly a month when my daughter was born 9 years ago. Shortly after she was born, I found myself on a Life Flight with our premature, c-section newborn because she had suffered a massive stroke in utero.

My wife arrived a few days later, as soon as she was cleared to travel. It was the most difficult time I've ever experienced, and we're forever grateful for the hospitality we received at the Ronald McDonald House.

If you'd like to get involved, reach out to Ronald McDonald House Charities Eastern Montana, or RMCH of Western Montana. They're always looking for groups or individuals to cook or provide a meal, donate items, or assist financially.