SYRACUSE -- At the current Ronald McDonald House in Syracuse, the help hundreds of families of seriously ill children with lodging and meals but in very cramped quarters. The current house is only 9,000 square feet and doesn't have enough kitchen space or elevators for handicapped guests.
The new 35,000 square foot house is under construction just down the road and will have a lot more space to make families comfortable. During a tour this morning, CNY Central saw a series of new playrooms and an exercise room being constructed, as well as a massive media room that will allow families to have some relaxation time together. The new house will also have two massive kitchens right next to each other. One will be handicapped accessible and both connect to a spacious dining area.
Crews were also working to install an elevator that will take guests to their rooms. The current house doesn't have an elevator and many of the families staying a the house have difficulty with the narrow stairways.
"We have elder caregivers who are here, we have children who are wheelchair bound, we have caregivers who are wheelchair bound or sometimes the children are too weak to do the stairs that we have," said Executive Director Beth Trunfio.
Beth Trunfio said she was extremely happy to see the walls and spaces taking shape inside the new building. She praised all the of the donors and workers who had made the house a reality and said she is constantly impressed by the passion the different crews have put into their work.
"This is truly a community project and the folks, the vendors, the project managers, the site managers - this is their house and it's the house love truly built," said Trunfio on Friday.
The $6 million dollar house still needs $500,000 in donations. For more information on donations click here. The house is expected to open later this summer.
