Meals from the Heart: Valsoft's Toronto Team Prepares 228 Meals and Snacks at Ronald McDonald House

After a long day at the hospital, a warm meal waiting downstairs can mean more than anyone might imagine. For families caring for a seriously ill child, it's one less thing to plan, buy and cook, and one more moment to simply be together.

That's why, this September, our colleagues from Valsoft's Toronto office rolled up their sleeves and stepped into the kitchen at Ronald McDonald House Toronto as part of its Meals from the Heart program. The Valsef Dream Big Foundation was proud to make the day possible with a $7,500 contribution.

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A Home Away From Home

Since 1981, Ronald McDonald House Toronto has given families with seriously ill children a place to call home. Its downtown House sits minutes from the city's pediatric hospitals and can host 81 families at once. It also runs seven Family Rooms in five hospitals across the Greater Toronto Area.

The need is real: 65% of Canadians live outside a city with a children's hospital. When a child needs specialized care, many families have to leave home, sometimes for weeks or months. The House keeps them close to their child and close to each other. In 2025 alone, it served 4,724 families, provided 31,126 nights of comfort and served 28,970 meals.

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Cooking Up Comfort

Under the guidance of Chef Michael, Raman Paulovich, Anna Paulovich, Santi Munera, Jonas Martins, Ethan Zhou and Annie Rogers spent the day chopping, cooking, portioning and packing. By the end of their shift, they had prepared:

• 70 home-cooked meals

• 73 yogurt parfaits

• 85 fruit cups

That adds up to 18 volunteer hours spent making sure families had something nourishing to come home to.

Dreaming Big, Together

A huge thank you to Raman, Anna, Santi, Jonas, Ethan and Annie for giving their time and their hearts, and to Chef Michael and the entire Ronald McDonald House Toronto team for welcoming us. Together, we served more than meals. We served comfort, care and connection.