CINCINNATI — Jenn Loeb returned from the Peace Corps and knew she wanted to keep doing a job that made a difference. 

After two years in Morocco working in child and maternal health care, it was a natural transition to the Ronald McDonald House of Greater Cincinnati (RMH) where health care is top of mind for everyone who walks through the doors.

RMH provides a place to rest and get nourishment for families whose children are patients at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center. As the executive director, Loeb oversees a staff whose mission it is to make life just a bit more comfortable for families whose children often require intensive and prolonged care.

Some families stay a few nights, others may be there for a year or more. They come from every state in the U.S. and several countries, seeking medical care from the best pediatric hospital in the country, according to the most recent rankings by U.S. News and World Report.

“Even my closest friends and family still say to me, ‘Isn’t it depressing to work there?'" Loeb said. "'You’re around sick kids all day long, that’s gotta be heartbreaking…’ and it is sad, I won’t deny that, but there’s so much hope here and so much joy."

In fact, during a family’s worst days, RMH provides what Loeb describes as a “respite.” Between medical tests and procedures, and worries about their child’s health and future, the House offers more than just shelter; there is camaraderie at meals, where families connect and find support from one another; crafts and movies for visiting siblings and a toy closet for those moments when a child needs a boost.

Loeb comes from a tight-knit family and having lost her father at a very young age, she said his “social work blood” runs through her veins. While not a social worker, the impulse to meet people’s needs at their most difficult time reflects Loeb’s commitment to serving others.

To learn more visit RMH of Greater Cincinnati.