SPRINGFIELD, Ill, (WAND) — "The house is just giving us a safe haven."

That's how Karla Hildebrand describes the Springfield Ronald McDonald house. 

Hildebrand has been in and out of the home over the course of 19 years, getting treatment for her three children. The longest period was four months. 

Currently, her 13 year-old daughter in in the hospital, having medical procedures done. During these stressful times, the last thing she wants to worry about is her next meal. That's why the home's Meals for the Heart program is so important to her.

"Just knowing that you don't have to worry about a meal, knowing we don't have to worry about where we're going to stay, knowing we have a safe haven to go to, it's like family," said Hildebrand. 

Development director for Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Illinois Abby Koester said the organization wants to do everything they can to help make things easy for families. But when they're short on volunteers, it makes things harder to navigate. 

So they need some help, and are asking the community to step up. 

"I know the last thing our families want to think about whenever they come back from then hospital is what are they going to eat? ... So we have groups that come in and cook home cooked meals for our families, which is really, really lovely and comforting. And so we're looking for individuals and groups to come in and do that for our families," said Koester.

If you're looking to volunteer for Meals from the Heart, click here. 

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