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When Disaster Hits

After natural disasters hit Japan and New Zealand earlier this year, Ronald McDonald House programs in Sendai and Christchurch faced damage, destruction and worry.

However, with a network of support from the RMHC system, steadfast dedication to the mission, and a community of local donors, both House programs are thankfully up and running again.

Ronald McDonald House South Island in Christchurch, New Zealand

On February 22, 2011, Christchurch, New Zealand experienced a 6.3 magnitude earthquake, close to the center of the city, in the middle of the day.  It was utter devastation and nearly 200 lives were lost.

The beautiful 26-bedroom Ronald McDonald House in Christchurch not far from the earthquake’s epicenter, suffered significant damage, but guest families were evacuated safely and cared for in alternate housing. Despite the mounting losses that day and in the next couple weeks, the staff and volunteer at the House worked tirelessly to ensure that once the hospitals were open again, families would have a place to stay and were provided with transportation to stay by their child’s side and meals to sustain them. 

Despite significant damage to the House, structural engineers determined that the entire building could be saved. And thanks to the network of support from the RMHC system and a community of generous donors, the House’s needs were met with contributions of funds, equipment and man-hours. 

Repairs began immediately and on April 11, the first five bedrooms were opened to families.  Shortly thereafter, another nine bedrooms re-opened. The hope is to have the whole facility fully up and running, keeping more families together by May 2012.

Ronald McDonald House Sendai, Japan

On March 11, 2011, Japan experienced a massive 9.0 earthquake and tragic tsunami. More than 13,000 people died and many thousands more were left homeless. 

The Ronald McDonald Houses in Tokyo and Tochigi suffered modest damage but families were able to continue to stay at the House.  However, the Sendai Ronald McDonald House, the closest of Japan's seven Houses to the epicenter of the earthquake, lost electricity, gas and water, and fresh food was hard to get for weeks on end.

With airports and train stations closed, RMHC Japan staff drove from Tokyo to Sendai with much needed food and supplies to help the guest families, volunteers, and staff at the House. The drive from Tokyo to Sendai usually takes five hours, but with long gas lines, a snow storm, and many blocked or closed roads, the trip took twenty hours.

When the RMHC staff arrived, there was no heat and all of the guest families were sleeping together in the dining room out of fear for another earthquake. RMHC Japan welcomed high-risk pregnancy mothers living near the nuclear power plant into the House and helped a family whose son had a stroke while staying at a nearby emergency shelter. 

“So many children and families needed our help,” said Mickey Yamamoto, executive director, RMHC Japan. “We stayed for four days until the power returned and a relief team from our House in Sapporo arrived. To this day, teams from Japan's six other Houses continue to assist with the day-to-day caring for families in Sendai.”

The Chapter received financial support from RMHC Global, The Coca-Cola Company, RMHC Taiwan, and McDonald's operators and suppliers. Additionally, McDonald's operators in Japan donated meat, bread, juice and milk to the House, a local church in Sendai donated gas so Mickey and her team could make the trip back to Tokyo, and emails from people throughout the RMHC system offering comfort and support came in droves.

At RMHC there is strength in numbers – and in times of distress and destruction, this strength helps our system persevere. Mickey said it the best, “It gave me so much strength realizing that we were not alone, that people cared, and that we were truly part of a global family.” 

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