The Comfort Cart: Ronald McDonald House Charities® Alberta in Partnership With Alberta Health Services (AHS)
What is the Comfort Cart?
Offering complimentary snacks, drinks, toys, hygiene items, and more, the Comfort Cart is a hospitality cart that brings the comforts of the Ronald McDonald House® to families spending long days at the hospital with their sick or injured child.
In partnership with Alberta Health Services (AHS), the Comfort Cart is a volunteer-run initiative that supports families outside of the Ronald McDonald House while providing an opportunity to share information with caregivers about programs and services available through RMHC Alberta.
What is Offered on the Comfort Cart?
A choice of snacks, beverages, hygiene items, and comfort items are available to families at no cost. These small items provide an element of support to families at their sick child’s bedside.
When Does the Comfort Cart Operate?
The RMHC Alberta Comfort Cart currently operates in two hospitals:
Calgary’s Foothills Medical Centre
The Comfort Cart operates four times a week for two hours outside the Foothills Medical Centre’s neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).
Monday: 11:30am–1:30pm
Tuesday: 7:00pm–9:00pm
Thursday: 11:00am–1:00pm
Saturday: 12:30pm–2:30pm
Calgary’s Peter Lougheed Centre – Starting in 2024
The Comfort Cart operates four times a week for two hours on the NICU and Pediatric Units.
Tuesday: 7:00pm–9:00pm
Wednesday: 7:00pm–9:00pm
Saturday: 12:30pm–2:30pm
Sunday: 12:30pm–2:30pm
Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre
The Comfort Cart operates once a week for three hours at the Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre, serving five units: NICU, Labour & Delivery, Postpartum, Pediatric Medicine, and Pediatric Mental Health.
Wednesday: 12:30pm–4:30pm
Volunteer With the Comfort Cart
Volunteering with the Comfort Cart is a unique opportunity to make a tangible impact by serving and visiting with families in the community. We invite you to join us in taking RMHC Alberta’s mission beyond the walls of the Ronald McDonald House to families spending long days in the hospital.
As the Comfort Cart serves in a hospital setting, our Comfort Cart volunteers must complete a multi-step orientation process through RMHC Alberta and Alberta Health Services. We also ask that all Comfort Cart volunteers commit to a minimum of one shift per week for at least one year.
If you are interested in becoming a Comfort Cart volunteer, please click the button below and find the Comfort Cart under our current volunteer opportunities.
Thank You to Our Comfort Cart Sponsors!
A special thank you to our sponsors, FortisAlberta and the Kinsmen Club of the Stampede City, for providing the funding needed to keep RMHC Alberta’s Comfort Cart supplied!
