19 Dec The Life-Changing Impact of a Little Change

Each time you Round Up at McDonald’s, you make a difference in the lives of families like the Spencers. As a teenager, Erica Spencer began working at McDonald’s and ChrisGabriel, her manager at that time, had a keen appreciation for the Ronald McDonald House. Chris often touted the importance of collecting change at McDonald’s to support Ronald McDonald Houses and encouraged her to volunteer. When she was 17, she started helping at RMHC Philly, never expecting that many years later, she would benefit directly from its services.

“I had a love and appreciation for the Ronald McDonald House at a very young age because of volunteering,” says Erica. “It really made me feel great to help families without yet fully understanding what they were going through.”

22 years later—just three weeks after giving birth to her son, Mason—her world stopped when she learned Mason’s kidneys were failing. Erica had to leave her job so Mason could receive care at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, an hour away from her family’s home. Her husband kept his job and made the hour-long drive every day to be with his wife and son. The family was exhausted. That’s when the House became a lifeline to them.

“I wasn’t eating, we had lost my income, and when we got to the House we had food and a place to stay. I didn’t have to worry about myself.”

The Spencers spent time on and off at the House for 5 months after Mason’s birth, and then again in 2019 when he received a kidney transplant.

“I still get emotional when I talk about it. When I got to the House, I knew what it felt like to be on the other side. I just appreciated everything. I knew that everyone there understood what I was going through. I felt safe to cry, to let out emotion, and I felt safe to laugh, as weird as it sounds.”

Now a supervisor at McDonald’s, Erica says it was eye opening to see how much a few cents can add up at the end of the month. Each person who rounds up when they order truly makes a difference.

“It can be 12 cents, but it’s something I always ask, noticing how much we can raise from a simple question. It’s a big deal for me, to see how much that little bit of change can add up.”

Today, Mason is 7 years old, and happy and healthy! The Spencers still visit the House from time to time to take breaks from the hospital when he has appointments in the city.

“It’s important for people to know that when you donate your change, you are giving someone the comfort of keeping a family together and making sure they’re eating and taking care of themselves. You never realize it could be you or a family member that would be in need. Don’t forget to Round Up every time you visit McDonald’s. It makes all the difference for families like mine.”