MEALS FROM THE HEART: PEAPOD DELIVERS TO CHICAGO RONALD MCDONALD HOUSES

The kitchen is the heart of every home, and this is especially true at the four Ronald McDonald Houses of Chicagoland & Northwest Indiana (RMHC-CNI®) due to the support of the “Meals from the Heart" program, now made easier by leading online grocer Peapod.  Volunteer groups now have the option of ordering from Peapod.com and choosing delivery service to the Ronald McDonald House kitchens where the volunteer will prepare home-cooked meals for families with children being treated in nearby medical facilities.  

“We are grateful to have Peapod as a partner in helping us to provide families with care and comfort during some of the most challenging times,” said RMHC-CNI® CEO Doug Porter.

Meals from the Heart is a multi-step program:  Participating volunteer groups plan a menu, set a date, purchase ingredients and transport them from their homes to RMHC-CNI®.   The volunteers then prepare meals in Ronald McDonald House full-service kitchens.  With Peapod on board as a partner, companies and individuals volunteering at RMHC-CNI® can have the convenience of ordering all of their ingredients online.  Peapod will fill their orders and deliver them to the Ronald McDonald House location according to the volunteers’ schedule.  The Peapod service eliminates several steps for the Meals from the Heart volunteers, allowing them to forget the heavy lifting and focus on planning and preparing the actual meal.   Plus, Peapod grants a 2 percent rebate to RMHC-CNI® for all orders placed by volunteer groups.

The program has already gained traction; in the past month alone, five companies running Meals from the Heart volunteer groups have used Peapod to streamline their volunteer experience and earn extra dollars for the Ronald McDonald House locations. 

“Serving up convenience and fresh choices is what we do every day for our customers.  When we can do that and add value to the important work of organizations like the Ronald McDonald House, it’s a home run for all of us,” said Andrew Parkinson, President and General Manager of Peapod.  “We are very proud of this new partnership and to be supporting the Meals from the Heart volunteers — the real heroes – who are providing comfort and a little bit of home with these fresh meals for families who are in the midst of a difficult time,” he said.