A holiday initiative is inviting Northeast Ohio residents to brighten the season for families of seriously ill children by sending digital messages of support to Ronald McDonald Houses in Cleveland and Akron. The “Send a Snowflake” campaign encourages community members to submit online notes that will be transformed into snowflake-themed decorations, creating a winter display for families staying near local hospitals.
How the campaign works
Supporters are asked to visit the campaign’s online portal and write a brief message of encouragement, which is then printed or displayed as a snowflake inside the Houses. Participation is free and designed to be quick, making it accessible to individuals, schools, businesses, and community groups who want to show families that they are not facing the holidays alone.
Ronald McDonald Houses provide lodging, meals, and support for families who must travel for their child’s medical care, offering a “home away from home” steps from partner hospitals. Staff and volunteers say visual shows of support, such as the snowflake messages, can help ease the isolation and stress that families often feel during long hospital stays.
Impact on families
Many families staying at Ronald McDonald Houses spend weeks or months far from their own communities while children receive specialized treatment. Holiday campaigns like “Send a Snowflake” are intended to turn hallways and common areas into bright, welcoming spaces filled with reminders that strangers in the wider community are thinking of them.
The nonprofit notes that emotional support complements the practical help it provides, which includes private rooms, common kitchens, and access to other families going through similar experiences. For parents and siblings juggling medical decisions, work, and school disruptions, even small gestures—like seeing their names surrounded by snowflakes—can offer comfort during an uncertain season.
Ways to get involved
Organizers encourage individuals to share the campaign on social media and invite friends or coworkers to participate together, amplifying the number of messages sent into the Houses. Local businesses and classrooms are also being urged to “adopt” the campaign as a seasonal project, pledging a certain number of digital snowflakes or pairing messages with collection drives for toiletries, snacks, and toys requested by the charity.
Those who want to do more can explore volunteer opportunities or make financial contributions to Ronald McDonald House Charities of Northeast Ohio, which supports programs in and around Cleveland and Akron. Nationally, Ronald McDonald House programs rely on community donations and partnerships to fund overnight stays and services, and regional campaigns like “Send a Snowflake” are one way residents can see that impact close to home.