For the month of July, our Community Initiative of the Month is Ronald McDonald House Charities Manitoba!

RMHC Manitoba supports the health and well-being of children by providing a "home-away-from-home" and other essential services for critically ill, chronically ill and seriously injured children and their families.

Ronald McDonald House Charities Manitoba is an organization that keeps families together. Ronald McDonald House is a "home-away-from-home" for rural Manitoban and out-of-province families with a child requiring treatment at a nearby hospital. The 11,000 square foot House is located on Bannatyne Avenue, only two blocks from HSC Children's Hospital. It supports up to 14 families at a time.

Donations from our Community Initiative of the Month program throughout July to Ronald McDonald House Charities new house being built in Winnipeg. 40% of pediatric in-patients in Manitoba must travel 100 km or more, round-trip, to access the care they need for their sick child. The new House will increase space from 11,000 To 47,000 sq. ft. and bedrooms from 14 to 40. It will also include specialty suites for bone marrow and solid organ transplant patients.

Throughout the months of July and August, RMHC is also running their Champion for Families campaign! The longest stay of an RMHC Manitoba family last year was 194 days. Now, they are challenging you to pick your favourite activity, do it 194 times between July 1st – August 31st, and have fun while raising pledges online. Move a total of 194 kilometers, sing 194 songs, sell 194 handmade bracelets—the possibilities are endless! Share your experience on social media to raise awareness using the hashtag, #ChampionForFamilies194, and tag four other people to do the same!

A portion of sales from all cupcakes at Academy, The Forks, Island Lakes and over SkipTheDishes will be donated to RMHC throughout the month of July. To learn more about RMHC, click here.