OCALA, FL (352today.com) – HCA Florida Ocala Hospital’s Patient Care Technician (PCT) Council has donated $1,000 to the Ronald McDonald House of Gainesville to assist families of ill or injured children who may not have the resources to deal with an extended hospital stay.

The proceeds were generated by a one-day bake sale held recently at HCA Florida Ocala Hospital. Almost all of the available items sold for just $1, meaning hundreds of hospital staff and visitors supported the cause.

According to Stevie Doyle, chief executive officer of Ronald McDonald House Charities of North Central Florida, the donation is the equivalent of covering the cost of a family’s stay at Ronald McDonald House for 10 nights.

Doyle noted that families from Marion County spend an average of 3,200 nights at the facility annually.

“This gift will make a meaningful difference for the families staying with us, providing comfort, care, and a sense of stability during some of the hardest days of their lives. Support like this ensures we can continue to keep families close to their children receiving medical care,” said Doyle. “We are incredibly grateful to the PCT Council at HCA Florida Ocala Hospital for their generous support of our mission. Their dedication to giving back and raising these funds speaks volumes about their commitment to the families we serve at Ronald McDonald House Charities of North Central Florida.”

Jennifer Teuton, clinical director of the Medical/Surgical Unit at HCA Florida Ocala Hospital and chairwoman of the PCT Council, commented, “The PCT Council believes in giving back to the community that supports us every day. We wanted to choose a cause that spoke to our hearts that also allowed us to make a real difference in people’s lives. Supporting a meaningful initiative, such as Ronald McDonald House, brings us closer as a team and reminds us why we chose healthcare—to care, to serve, and to uplift others, both inside and outside the hospital.”

The PCT Council at HCA Florida Ocala Hospital considered several charities for the donation. The council ultimately chose the Ronald McDonald House after Patient Care Technician Mizraim Ramon, a council member, provided a heartfelt discussion of his own positive personal experience with the organization. 

Ramon said he visited Ronald McDonald House earlier this year as part of a care team and was moved by the stories of the families staying there and the welcoming environment presented by the staff and the facility itself.

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