At Riverbend Ranch, we know that strong families are the foundation of strong communities. That’s why we’re proud to support the Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC), a non-profit organization that provides critical services to families with children receiving medical care. If you’re unfamiliar with this charity, it’s really quite simple. When a child is receiving medical treatment, like a newborn in the NICU or a child recovering from surgery or cancer treatment, RMHC offers the family a home away from home—sometimes for a night, and sometimes for weeks or even months.
By offering a warm meal, a safe place to sleep, usually a short walk or drive to the hospital, RMHC helps to carry the burdens that come with these situations. Studies have shown that when a child’s family stays close by, health outcomes improve.
And as a family-owned ranch committed to doing the right thing, Riverbend Ranch is honored to support this vital mission in helping families any way we can.
Donating Riverbend Ranch Beef
This summer, Riverbend Ranch made a donation to RMHC of Idaho, providing high-quality Riverbend Ranch beef and hot dogs in support of their fundraisers. This donation allowed the nonprofit to hold events without incurring any food costs, generating maximum profit in support of the newly established Ronald McDonald Family Room at Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center (EIRMC).
And this wasn’t Riverbend Ranch’s first act of kindness with RMHC. In previous years, Riverbend Ranch and its sister company Melaleuca: The Wellness Company have supported these families with grocery assistance, helping ease the financial strain for parents already juggling hospital visits and emotional stress. Specifically, they donated enough funds to cover six months of perishable food at the Ronald McDonald Family Room at EIRMC.
This Ronald McDonald Family Room is like a temporary home within the walls of a hospital, serving families of pediatric patients receiving treatment. It includes four bedrooms to house four families, a communal kitchen, a living room and dining area.
The Family Room is meant to serve as overnight or short-term lodging for families with sick children in the hospital.
“It’s very exciting to be able to offer care and comfort and support to families who have sick kids in the hospital. That’s what we do as an organization is really work to keep families close together near their sick child close to the medical care they need,” said Mindy Plumlee, executive director at Ronald McDonald House Charities of Idaho when the facility opened.
Supporting Young Mothers in Need of Resources
Riverbend Ranch has also played a role in supporting young mothers through our longstanding partnership with The Shepherd’s Inn, a nonprofit pregnancy resource center that serves young, first-time mothers (mostly teenagers) with little to no family support. Each year, Riverbend Ranch donates the grand prize—a premium Black Angus cow—for the organization’s “Win the Whole Cow” fundraiser.
In 2024, the donation included 700 pounds of beef and a freezer to store it all! The raffle helped The Shepherd’s Inn raise a record-breaking $29,000. The funds go to supporting counseling sessions, parenting programs, scholarships, and essential baby supplies for the young moms and their children.
“Your generous donation has helped the Shepherd’s Inn continue to speak hope and encouragement into the families that we serve,” wrote executive director Julie Zahn in a letter to Frank and Belinda VanderSloot. “Riverbend Ranch’s generosity and support really does make a difference—two lives at a time!”
Feeding Families with Premium Beef
That same year, Riverbend Ranch also donated more than 24,000 pounds of ground beef and steaks to The Idaho Foodbank, who distributed the beef to their partners, ensuring that hungry families would have protein-rich meals in their freezers.
“Protein is a highly desired food for the people we serve,” said Randy Ford, president and CEO of the Idaho Foodbank. “We appreciate this philanthropic partnership and their ongoing charitable work to help Idahoans who are struggling to make ends meet.”
Whether we’re raising the highest-quality Black Angus cattle or supporting nonprofits with noble causes, we’re proud to stand behind what truly matters. Supporting Ronald McDonald House Charities is just one way we aim to give back to the communities that have supported us.
Based in Idaho Falls, Riverbend Ranch is one of the largest Black Angus cattle operations in the country. We’ve built a national reputation for high-quality beef—shipped directly to households across the country—and the highest standards in beef processing. Riverbend Ranch has a state-of-the-art beef processing facility located in Idaho.
