The McDonald’s restaurants in Rochester, Austin and Albert Lea, and Mason City, Clear Lake and Charles City, Iowa, announce the Cookies For Kids program. All profits or 50 cents from the sales of fresh baked cookies in McDonald’s restaurants in those cities will be donated to the Ronald McDonald House in Rochester. The fresh baked chocolate chip cookies are a recent addition to the McDonald’s restaurant menu and are available in 3 for $1 snack packs or a Baker’s Dozen for $3.99.

The McDonald’s restaurant located at 1505 Second St. SW in Rochester will be hosting a Cookie Kick-Off Party on Dec. 14 at 2:30 p.m. Representatives of the Ronald McDonald House, the House’s spokesfamily and local McDonald’s restaurant owner/operators as well as Ronald McDonald will be on hand to conduct an official cookie dip in milk to launch the Cookies For Kids program.

Linda Bonow, executive director of the Ronald McDonald House of Rochester adds “so many families cross our threshold every year and every single day we are enriched and humbled by the strength and courage of our guests. What a privilege it is for us to provide a ‘home away from home.’ We are truly overwhelmed by this generous offer of support from our local McDonald’s operators through the Cookies For Kids program.”

“The crew and Managers at McDonald’s are very excited to support the Ronald McDonald House all year round and what better way for us to directly connect our customers to the guests that stay at the Ronald McDonald House than by sharing the comfort of a cookie,” says Rick Lommen, one of the participating McDonald’s restaurant owner/operators.

Add Chris and Danielle Register, who have been guests at the Ronald McDonald House several times while son Tristan underwent medical care, “we are so very fortunate to have been able to stay at the House. The house was a sanctuary to our family. A place to stay safe and surrounded by happiness and joy during such a rough time.”

The mission of the Ronald McDonald House is to serve as a ‘home away from home’ for families who must travel to seek medical treatment for their seriously ill or injured children. The Ronald McDonald House offers families a way to stay together, in proximity to the treatment hospital, and be comfortable and cared for during their stay. Parents can also can better communicate with their child’s medical team and keep up with complicated treatment plans when needed, which helps in the healing process. The Ronald McDonald House allows families to access specialized medical treatment by providing a place to stay at little or no cost.

The Ronald McDonald House of Rochester, located at 850 Second St. SW, has been serving families for 30 years. In 2008, 1065 families from 43 states and 24 countries called the Ronald McDonald House in Rochester home. For more information, visit www.rmhmn.org.