Dealing with health issues is stressful enough, especially when children are involved. Doing so while away from home only adds to that burden.

Attendees at this year’s National Settlement Services Summit (NS3) in Orlando sought to ease that burden somewhat by building Comfort Kits for the families staying at the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Florida properties.

During the networking community outreach event, sponsored by Qualia, attendees filled bags with items Ronald McDonald House organizers said are most helpful to their guests.

The items will include mixed fidget toys, 6-in-1 card games, toothbrushes and toothpaste, crayons, coloring books, socks for children; and branded drawstring bags, blankets, toothbrushes and toothpaste, socks, crayons and coloring and activity books for adults.

“We are pleased to have Qualia partner with us on this philanthropic event,” said Erica Meyer, CEO and publisher of October Research, LLC. “Watching people from throughout the industry chip in to help a worthy event each year is one of the highlights of our summit.”

“What better way to kick off NS3 than to support a group who provides a home away from home for so many families in Central Florida,” added Matt Kaufman, vice president of marketing at Qualia. “We applaud the work of Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Florida to support families with children receiving medical treatment, and we appreciate the opportunity to assist in their efforts alongside our customers and partners.”  

 Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Florida finds, creates, and supports programs that directly improve the health and well-being of children and families. Their Ronald McDonald House provides a home away from home for families with children receiving treatment at hospitals and medical facilities in Orlando.

They operate three Ronald McDonald Houses in Orlando –- one on the campus of Orlando Health Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children and Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women and Babies; one on the campus of AdventHealth for Children; and one on the campus of Nemours Children’s Health.

“Our cornerstone program, the Ronald McDonald House, provides a home away from home for families with children receiving treatment at medical facilities in Orlando,” Marketing Coordinator Emily Zilke said. “When a child is seriously ill, families face extensive medical treatment, hectic schedules, and great amounts of stress. More often than not, families arrive at our houses with the bare minimum.  We are grateful to be receiving this generous donation of comfort kits from NS3 to be able to continue providing our guest families with the comforts of home so they can focus on what matters most—their child’s healing process.”