Meet the Birmingham chef feeding families with sick kids + 7 ways to help now

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When parents have a child in the hospital, eating well isn’t always the top priority, and for many, it’s another worry during an already stressful time. Since 2024, Birmingham chef Rocky Prince of Ronald McDonald House Alabama has taken the lead in easing those concerns for over 2,000 families annually.

When families stay at the House, it includes a daily evening meal program, Meals from the Heart.

We met with Chef Rocky recently and learned how all the ingredients come together and how you can help these families, too.

What is Meals from the Heart at Ronald McDonald House Alabama?

For Ronald McDonald House Alabama, providing a nutritious meal at the end of the day seemed like one less worry for families.

The House has always had a meal program and added a dedicated chef position in 2023 to manage food costs, set menus, stabilize the meal schedule, grocery shop, prepare the food and coordinate program volunteers.

Chef Rocky handles these tasks, running the kitchen and preparing an evening meal daily for up to 80 people.

“I see the impact of what we’re doing every time I see a family come through the first time, and their faces light up with a look that reads, ‘Oh! I can just grab a plate of food?’ You just immediately see the look of relief on their faces when we tell them it’s included with their stay.”
_{Ronald McDonald House Alabama House Chef Rocky Prince}

Birmingham Chef Rocky Prince: Serving more than meals

A Magic City native, Chef Rocky began his career 20 years ago in fine dining in the Montgomery area. With family ties to a Ronald McDonald House in Minnesota, he became a meal volunteer for our Birmingham House in 2011, making the drive quarterly for years.

He enjoyed it so much the first time, he even told his boss he’d love for it to be his full-time job. By summer 2024, it was.

Shortly after his move home, he and his father both endured major health battles. He credits Birmingham’s excellent healthcare for helping him overcome his fight and was grateful to be back home with his dad for precious time before he passed—experiences he says help him better relate to challenges families at the House face.

7 ways to support Meals from the Heart + Ronald McDonald House Alabama

Want to help Chef Rocky and the Ronald McDonald House Alabama team with serving families Meals from the Heart? Here’s how:

⭐️ Meal Hero sponsorship ($5,000) to provide one meal to families per month for a full year
⭐️ Supper Star ($500) to provide one house-wide meal
⭐️ Pantry Pal ($300) to stock the kitchen with staples
⭐️ Foodie Friend (any amount) donations to the meal program
⭐️ Volunteer to assist in the kitchen
⭐️ Wish List giving allows you donate the most-needed items directly, including snacks
⭐️ House Hero monthly giving supports the House year-round

Ready to support families when they need it most? Visit Ronald McDonald House Alabama to sponsor meals, donate snacks or set up a monthly gift.

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