Rooted in community: Rhonda’s ongoing dedication to Jeneece Place
Once a month, Rhonda walks into the kitchen at Jeneece Place carrying bags of groceries she’s purchased with the help of her boss. With her son by her side, she sets to work preparing a warm, home-cooked meal for the families staying there—parents, siblings, and caregivers who are far from home while their child receives medical care in Victoria.
She’s been doing this since 2013, just a year after Jeneece Place opened its doors. “We’ve been cooking dinner there once a month ever since, except for when we had to stop for COVID,” she says. “It’s just something we do.” What began with a team of coworkers has since become a family tradition—her son, Blair, now joins her every month, and her daughter, Kaitlyn, used to help out when she was younger. “It’s a bonding time for us,” Rhonda shares. “We set everything up, cook, clean, and leave the kitchen better than we found it. And then we go.”
Rhonda is the Operations Supervisor for four McDonald’s restaurants in the Westshore. Though her day job is demanding, volunteering at Jeneece Place is a priority. She’s deeply connected to the house—not just because of the people it serves, but because she knows the person it’s named after. “Jeneece (now known as Frankie) is like family to me,” she says. “Frankie’s brother is my godson. I was the matron of honour at Frankie’s parents’ wedding, and I used to watch the kids when they were babies.”
That personal connection fuels Rhonda’s passion for the work. “Even though there isn’t anybody there that I know personally now, it means a lot. I’m also very passionate about Ronald McDonald House, and here on the Island, Jeneece Place fills that role for families.”
Every visit leaves an impression. Some families open up, telling Rhonda stories about their children or how much the meals mean to them. “One mom walked in and started to cry,” she recalls. “She told me she had been eating out of a can for three weeks because she didn’t want to leave the hospital. A home-cooked meal just brought her to tears.”
Rhonda doesn’t ask questions—she simply shows up with food and a heart full of empathy. “You’re going to dye eggs, or do a craft with the kids that are there, so you put this beautiful little sunshiny moment into potentially an otherwise stressful day,” she says. “That’s what it’s about.”
She also remembers a father from Sooke who came in ready to cook dinner for his wife—only to discover Rhonda and her son already had it covered. “He put his groceries away and spent the next hour and a half outside with his son and wife. He said it gave him the gift of time.”
Rhonda’s commitment also extends through her work. Each May, she helps lead McHappy Day, as nationwide event where funds raised at some local McDonald’s restaurants directly support Jeneece Place. “It’s our busiest day of the year,” she says. “We raise around $15,000 between our locations, and half of that goes to Jeneece Place.”
Rhonda’s commitment to Jeneece Place is a reflection of who she is: steady, compassionate, and deeply rooted in the community. Whether it’s raising funds or preparing meals, she shows up. And in doing so, she gives families more than food—she gives them comfort, dignity, and a sense of home when they need it most.
