Make a meal from the heart.
Family, friends, or coworkers come together to give back.
Looking for a one-time or team-building volunteer experience that has a big impact on the families we serve? Look no further! The opportunities below are great for individuals, families, companies, service and school groups, or for anyone who wants to help in their community. Select the one that best fits your schedule, group size and interest level, and get ready to learn firsthand about our beautiful mission.
Schedule Your Volunteer Meal Making Activity
Dinner
Number of Cooks: Up to 8
Minimum Age: 10
Arrival Time: 4pm
Afternoon Treats
Number of Cooks: Up to 8
Minimum Age: 10
Arrival Time: 12pm
Volunteer Dinner Groups
Providing families with the comfort and warmth of a home-cooked meal after a long day at the hospital is a simple gift. Groups plan a menu to feed 35 guests, purchase ingredients and prepare the meal in our commercial-grade kitchen.
- Volunteer groups are responsible for bringing food supplies to prepare the meal.
- Group size is limited to 8 people. All volunteers must be 10+ years old.
- Please arrive no later than 4:00 p.m. so dinner will be ready for families by 6:00 p.m.
- Questions? For questions regarding our meal program, please email Sophia Melgar or call (608) 232-4660.
Afternoon Treats
Help provide treats or grab-and-go snacks for our families to enjoy. Baked goods, trail mix, and snack mixes are greatly appreciated by families as they go about their days.
- Offered: 12:00-2:00 pm most days
- Group Size: Up to 8 people
- Time commitment: 2-3 hours
- Ingredient purchase required. Additional donations are welcome.
Questions? Contact Sophia Melgar.
Augie’s Lunch & Learn
Augie’s Lunches with Love is an ideal way for families to enjoy delicious and nutritious meals on the move! Your corporate team will prepare up to 70 healthy portable lunches for parents with children who are receiving care at the American Family Children’s Hospital. These lunches keep them energized during long days at the hospital without the cost of eating out. Volunteer groups receive a guided mission tour before they assemble the meal kits. This is a great opportunity for your organization to give back.
- Offered: Wednesdays & Thursdays from 9:00 – 10:30 am
- Group Size: Up to 8 people
- Time commitment: 1-2 hours
- Donation: $500 is required to help cover meal expenses
Contact Monica Johnson to schedule or with additional questions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does my meal group need to accommodate food allergies in the House?
Allergy-friendly meals are appreciated and help us be inclusive to all who are staying in the House; however, they are not required. If your group is interested in making an allergy-friendly meal, we recommend trying a recipe that is gluten, dairy, and/or soy free as those are the most common sensitivities we see in the House. Soy and dairy sensitivities are particularly common here, as many breastfeeding mothers are asked to try this new diet and see how it affects the health of their baby.
How much food should my dinner/afternoon treats group plan to make?
Your group should bring the necessary amount of ingredients to prepare around 35 meals. This will ensure that everyone who wants a meal that night will get one, and it may provide some leftovers for the following day.
What kind of kitchen amenities does RMHC-Madison have?
The Volunteer Kitchen has plenty of mixers, baking sheets, utensils, mixing bowls, pressure cookers, and other items to help make cooking go smoothly. You will also have access to two full stove tops, two ovens, and two microwaves.
Will my group be serving families directly?
For safety and convenience, we ask volunteer groups to individually package meals/treats into provided containers. This ensures safety and convenience for patients and guest families. Some families will be ready for dinner or treats as soon as you are finished, but many of them won’t be back to the House from visiting their patient in the hospital until much later at night, and they appreciate being able to quickly warm up a meal and grab a treat as a pick-me-up. We provide a variety of containers to suit different meals and treats.
Does my meal group need to provide desserts, drinks, or sides to an entree?
While appreciated, extra items like desserts, sides, and drinks are not required. If you bring green/leafy salads, please prepare enough for about 10 servings to minimize food waste, as they’re not in high demand and spoil quickly. If you’d like to bring drinks, please bring pre-packaged options like bottled/canned drinks, juice boxes, or pouches, as we don’t have sealed cups or containers for beverages.
What pantry staples can RMHC provide to help us make our meal?
In the kitchen we will have salt, pepper, oil, sugar, and flour to help you make your meal. Aside from these items, we cannot guarantee that we will have any specific spices or condiments, so if there is something you are unable to provide for your meal it is best to check with our team to see if we have any we can provide to supplement your dish.
Not interested in cooking but would like to still volunteer? See our Wish List and Community Fundraiser ideas.
Looking for an opportunity to take this support a step further? Consider becoming a House Hero in three easy steps. Dust off that cape and put your superpowers to good use. 🦸
