Page 1 f 5 MEALS FROM THE HEART BRUNCH/DINNER PROGRAM GUIDELINES Thank yu fr yur interest in ur "Meals frm the Heart" Brunch/Dinner Prgram. The Meals frm the Heart prgram gives lcal businesses, cmmunity rganizatins, church grups, schls and families, etc., the pprtunity t vlunteer at the Rnald McDnald Huse f Lng Island by planning and preparing a brunch r dinner meal fr ur resident families. Once yu reserve a date t ck brunch r dinner at the Huse, ur families will be cunting n yu t prvide a delicius meal t sustain them while they are dealing with having a sick child being treated in a lcal hspital. Yur generus spirit helps t keep them pushing frward thrugh difficult times. It is imperative that yu read the "Meals frm the Heart" Guidelines and Frequently Asked Questins dcuments befre reserving a date t ck at the Huse. The dcuments cntain essential general infrmatin abut the Huse and infrmatin specific t yur meal preparatin. Please d nt reserve a date n the calendar t ck until yu are certain yur grup is ready t make this cmmitment. Yu are respnsible fr planning yur menu and purchasing all required ingredients. In rder t insure safety frm pssible fd cntaminatin, all items must be prepared n ur premises. N items may be prepped r cked at hme and brught t the Huse. Utensils, bwls, pts, and pans are available fr yur use in ur kitchen. Grups are limited t a ttal f 12 participants. If yur grup ttals mre than 12 peple, yu will need t split the grup and schedule tw dates. Vlunteers t ck a meal at the Huse must be ver the age f 16 years ld. Please arrive at yur scheduled tur/cking time. Shuld yu arrive earlier than yur scheduled time, yu may be asked t wait until the kitchen area is ready fr use. Yur kitchen time is limited t tw and ne-half (2 ½) hurs, including preparatin, cking, and clean-up. Please plan t prepare items that can be cmpleted within the alltted time. Participants are required t wear dispsable glves, prvided by RMHLI. Lng hair must be tied back. CANCELLATIONS: If a scheduling cnflict arises and yu need t cancel yur cking date, yu must cancel nline at least 30 days prir t yur reservatin, using the link in yur cnfirmatin email. In additin, please send an email t ck@rmhlngisland.rg, ntifying us directly f yur cancellatin. Please Nte: If yu cancel yur reserved date with less than 30 days ntice, yu are respnsible fr catering fd fr the meal frm a restaurant fr ur families. We will be happy t prvide a list f restaurants that have prvided meals fr the Huse in the past. Upn cancellatin, yu are required t email us at ck@rmhlngisland.rg with the name and cntact telephne number f the restaurant that will be prviding the fd t the Huse n yur behalf.
Page 2 f 5 MEALS FROM THE HEART BRUNCH/DINNER PROGRAM FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs) WHO MAY PARTICIPATE IN THE MEALS FROM THE HEART PROGRAM? Brunch/Dinner prgram vlunteers shuld be ver the age f 16 years ld. Yuth grup vlunteers, between the ages f 16 and 18, must be supervised by an adult. A yuth grup will nt be allwed t ck if they arrive withut an adult supervisr. HOW MANY COOKS MAY VISIT AT ONE TIME? Grups are limited t n mre than 12 participants. This guideline has been carefully adpted t respect the cmfrt and privacy f ur residents wh use ur kitchen facilities thrughut the day. WHAT DOES A MEALS FROM THE HEART VOLUNTEER HAVE TO DO? Vlunteers schedule a day and time t visit the Huse t ck. Part f the fun f participating in the prgram is planning what yu will prepare. Once yu have decided n yur menu ideas, purchase all f the ingredients needed t create yur meal and then visit the Huse t ck n yur scheduled day. Vlunteers shuld stay in the kitchen with their grup thrughut the visit. Restrms are lcated near the kitchen. HOW DO I SCHEDULE A DATE TO VISIT THE HOUSE TO COOK BRUNCH OR DINNER? Visit ur nline calendar t schedule yur date at www.rmhlngisland.rg/meals-frm-the-heart/. Please keep yur cnfirmatin email. WHAT HAPPENS IF I HAVE TO CANCEL A COOKING DATE? If a scheduling cnflict arises and yu need t cancel yur cking date, yu must cancel nline at least 30 days prir t yur reservatin, using the link in yur cnfirmatin email. In additin, please send an email t ck@rmhlngisland.rg, ntifying us directly f yur cancellatin. Please Nte: If yu cancel yur reserved date with less than 30 days ntice, yu are respnsible fr catering fd fr the meal frm a restaurant fr ur families. We will be happy t send yu a list f restaurants that have prvided meals fr the Huse in the past. Upn cancellatin, yu are required t email us at ck@rmhlngisland.rg with the name and cntact telephne number f the restaurant that will be prviding the fd t the Huse n yur behalf. WHAT WILL HAPPEN DURING MY VISIT? Please check in at the Huse Receptin Desk and cmplete the required paperwrk. If yu have scheduled a tur, yu will meet yur tur guide and start yur Huse tur, ending in the kitchen. Prepare yur fd and serve it buffet style n the kitchen cunter. Please bring aluminum pans fr serving the fd. We d nt use fd racks and sterns in the kitchen. Once yu are finished cleaning up, yu are ready t head hme.
Page 3 f 5 HOW DO I ARRANGE A HOUSE TOUR FOR MY GROUP? We welcme yu t tur the Huse prir t cking. Please check YES n the sign-up screen when scheduling yur date ( D yu want a Huse tur? ). Our tur guides are scheduled specifically fr grups that are visiting the Huse. If yu request a tur and later decide that yu d nt want a tur, please let us knw by calling the Huse Receptinist at 516-775-5683 (ext. 130), and als send an email t ck@rmhlngisland.rg at least three days prir t yur cking date s that the tur guide may be advised f the schedule change. WHAT TIME DO I NEED TO BE THERE? Please arrive n mre than 15 minutes ahead f yur scheduled time. If yu arrive earlier, yu may be asked t wait until yur assigned kitchen is ready fr use. Grups shuld arrive fr brunch preparatin by 9:30 a.m. If requested, yur Huse tur will be scheduled n yur arrival at 9:30 a.m. Brunch shuld be ready arund 12 Nn. Clean-up shuld be cmpleted by 12:30 p.m. Grups shuld arrive fr dinner preparatin by 3:30 p.m. If requested, yur Huse tur will be scheduled n yur arrival at 3:30 p.m. Dinner shuld be ready arund 6:00 p.m. Clean-up shuld be cmpleted by 6:30 p.m. PERSONAL HYGIENE REQUIREMENTS? All participants must wash their hands when they arrive in the kitchen prir t the start f cking and wear dispsable glves prvided by RMH-LI. Lng hair shuld be tied back r a hat may be wrn. FOR HOW MANY PEOPLE WILL MY GROUP BE COOKING? The number f residents staying at the Huse changes week t week, and generally averages 85 peple. Yu shuld, hwever, call the Huse Receptinist at 516-775-5683, Ext. 130, t cnfirm the number f current residents a few days befre purchasing fd t ck r catering restaurant fd. WHAT SHOULD MY GROUP PREPARE? Yu are respnsible fr planning yur menu and purchasing the required ingredients. A gd place t start is by thinking abut the things that yur wn family likes t eat. Als keep in mind items yu wuld enjy when warmed in the micrwave. Many families return t the Huse late at night and warm up leftver fd frm the dinner yu prepared earlier in the day. Dinner shuld include: a meat entrée, a ptat, rice, r pasta side, a vegetable and/r a salad. Beef, chicken, turkey, and prk entrees, including stew, chili, and meatlaf, have all been successful in the past. Barbeque grills are available fr use frm May 1 st thrugh Octber 31st. T help yu estimate the amunt f fd yu need t prepare, at a minimum fr 85 peple at dinnertime, we suggest yu prepare: Fur (4) pans f the main entrée Three (3) pans f ptat, rice, r pasta side Tw (2) pans f vegetable and/r salad At times f higher resident ccupancy, mre fd will be needed.
Page 4 f 5 All fd shuld be served using dispsable aluminum pans, prvided by yur grup, apprximately 21 inches x 13 inches x 3.5 inches. Fr brunch, yu shuld plan t prepare fd fr 50 peple, regardless f ccupancy numbers, because sme residents are unable t return t the Huse at lunchtime. Fr ht brunch items, breakfast standards like French tast and pancakes, r quiche and breakfast casserles, wrk well. Ham, cheese and egg wraps r English muffin sandwiches and quesadillas are gd fr a crwd. Hash Brwns, sausage/bacn, and salad make gd sides. Yu might cnsider fruit salad and fresh baked muffins. If yu decide t prvide a cntinental breakfast with n ht items, this culd include fresh fruit, ygurt, granla, pastries, and wrap sandwiches. Tuna, egg and chicken salads wrk well, with sme small fresh rlls, crissants, r bakery breads t make sandwiches. Assrted muffins are always a welcme additin, alng with dnatins f milk and juice fr ur residents. Cffee, tea, and cld beverages are available at the Huse. IS THERE SOMETHING ELSE WE CAN BRING FOR THE RESIDENTS? Dessert and extra milk dnatins are always appreciated. If yu plan t serve ice cream, please pack in ice t stay frzen fr a few hurs. CAN WE PREP FOOD AT HOME, PRIOR TO ARRIVING AT THE HOUSE? Grups MUST prepare all fd n premises. N items shuld be prepped r cked at hme and brught t the Huse. This rule ensures safety frm pssible fd cntaminatin and is a guideline enfrced thrugh Rnald McDnald Huse Charities, which versees every Rnald McDnald Huse. Stre-bught/pre-packaged fd r fd prepared by a restaurant may be brught t the Huse. ARE THERE ANY RESTRICTIONS REGARDING INGREDIENTS? Please d nt use any nuts, peanut il, r any peanut-based prducts in yur cking. HOW MUCH TIME DO WE HAVE IN THE KITCHEN TO COOK? Yur kitchen time is limited t abut tw and ne-half (2 ½) hurs, including preparatin, cking, and clean-up. HOW IS THE FOOD SERVED? There is n need t set tables. Meals are served buffet style in dispsable aluminum trays, apprximately 21 inches x 13 inches x 3.5 inches, cvered with fil r aluminum cvers, prvided by the grup. We d nt use fd racks with sterns. Please d nt leave fd in pts n the stve r in vens t stay warm. Please keep in mind that many families shw up at different times during the day t enjy their meals. We stre leftver fd in a cmmunity refrigeratr s families may make a plate and enjy yur meal whenever they want.
Page 5 f 5 Dinnerware and silverware are available in ur kitchens. Yu are welcme t bring paper/plastic plates and silverware, fr special seasnal r religius reasns, if yu wish. WHAT DOES THE RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE PROVIDE? We have a fully stcked kitchen, including, but nt limited t, utensils, bwls, mixers, pts and pans, and mst basic kitchen supplies fr yur use t ck at the Huse. Dinnerware and silverware are available. Participants are required t wear kitchen glves, prvided by RMH-LI. Lng hair must be tied back. WHAT ABOUT CLEAN-UP? Grups are respnsible fr kitchen clean-up. Please use the grease dispsal cntainers, fund n kitchen cunters, t dispse f any used il frm pans. D nt pur excess il dwn the kitchens drains. Dishes, utensils, and silverware shuld be laded in the dishwasher. Pts and pans shuld be washed by hand and returned t the strage cabinets and pantry shelves. CAN I EARN COMMUNITY SERVICE HOURS? The Brunch/Dinner Prgram is a gd way t earn cmmunity service hurs. When yu arrive at the Huse, cmplete the Meals frm the Heart prgram frm at the frnt desk. Keep the yellw cpy f the frm that is given t yu. This is yur receipt, as well as acknwledgement f fur hurs f cmmunity service. We d nt prvide separate service letters. ARE WE ALLOWED TO TAKE PHOTOS? Yu are allwed t take phts in the general areas f the Huse and f yur grup while cking. Hwever, please be sure that yu d nt include any families wh are staying at the Huse in yur pictures. WHERE IS THE RONALD McDONALD HOUSE OF LONG ISLAND LOCATED? Our street address is: 267-07 76 th Avenue New Hyde Park, NY 11040 Our cntact telephne number is: 516-775-5683 (Extensin 130 t reach Receptin Desk) WHERE SHOULD I PARK MY CAR? There is a visitr s parking lt lcated t the right as yu face the frnt f the Huse. The lt is utilized by ur residents, vlunteers and visitrs, s parking spaces may be limited when yu arrive. We ask that yu carpl as much as pssible. Yu may als park n the lcal streets in the neighbrhd. STILL HAVE A QUESTION NOT ANSWERED HERE? Please send an email t ck@rmhlngisland.rg.