Meals from the Heart:
Freezer Friends Pittsburgh
The Ronald McDonald House remains committed to the health and safety of its families, volunteers and staff. The following guidelines have been established for in-person volunteering:
- Groups are allowed up to a maximum of 10 individuals at one time.
- All volunteers must be 13 or older and minors must be accompanied by an adult.
The Meals from the Heart: Freezer Friends program helps fill our freezers to feed Ronald McDonald House: Pittsburgh families when we do not have a meal previously scheduled. Bring the ingredients and schedule a time to prepare the casseroles or frozen meals in our wonderful community kitchen – (or simply donate a store-bought casserole)!
- All frozen meal preps must be scheduled in advance.
- To reserve a Meals from the Heart: Freezer Friends time, a confirmation form must be filled out and returned within four days after scheduling your date with the Volunteer Coordinator. Tentative meal prep dates can only be put on hold for a maximum of four days. This allows us to move forward with other interested groups if you are no longer available.
- All meals and preparations must be assembled on site in our community kitchen or by a certified grocery store/restaurant.
- Due to the size of our kitchen, please limit your group size to no more than 10 people.
- Frozen Meal Preps can be scheduled at the following times: 7 days a week starting at 1:30 pm or 7:00 pm. Please contact the Volunteer Coordinator to schedule.
- We ask that you prepare enough food for the following number of people (approx.)
- Breakfast/Brunch – 40 people
- Lunch – 50 people
- Dinner – 50-60 people
- Ingredients for the meal being prepared must be supplied by the group. Please label the dish(es) with the ingredients (this helps with food sensitivities/restrictions), heating/baking instructions, and the date the preparations took place. Please tape the label to the top of the dish.
- If you are bringing children, they must be supervised at all times.
- No alcohol may be brought into the House. This is including the use as a food ingredient.
- Please bring with you items to package food for freezer (disposable bakeware and/or bakeware you wish to donate).
- The kitchen is equipped with two electric ovens, a dishwasher, cooking utensils, pots, pans and bakeware.
- Everyone preparing food should use appropriate hygiene practices and be free of any contagious diseases/sicknesses. Food safety gloves are a required when handling food. You are welcome to bring your own or gloves will be available in the Ronald McDonald House Pittsburgh kitchen.
- Please follow the food safety guidelines provided on the website: www.foodsafety.gov.
