Ronald McDonald House of Dallas Seeks Volunteers for 38th Annual Trains at NorthPark Exhibit

The Ronald McDonald House of Dallas is inviting the North Texas community to volunteer at The Trains at NorthPark, now in its 38th year. This cherished fundraising tradition returns to NorthPark Center from November 15, 2025, through January 4, 2026, with RMHD currently recruiting volunteers to support the eight-week exhibit.

Volunteers are most needed during weekdays and will assist with greeting guests, monitoring the exhibit, selling tickets and merchandise, and helping families create lasting holiday memories. Presented by Bank of Texas for the 17th consecutive year, The Trains at NorthPark helps support RMHD's mission of providing a home-away-from-home for families with children receiving critical medical treatment at Dallas-area hospitals. The tradition aims to raise more than $1.1 million to help RMHD continue this vital work.

Volunteers are the heart of this event, according to Jill Cumnock, CEO of Ronald McDonald House of Dallas. Their time and energy help support our mission of keeping families close to the care their children need. Every smiling face and helpful hand at The Trains at NorthPark plays a role in creating the magic that makes this event so meaningful.

The event is perfect for individuals, school groups, corporate teams, and families looking for a way to give back during the holiday season. Volunteers must be 15 years or older and can sign up for shifts online through the The Trains at NorthPark website. Whether you volunteer one shift or come back every week, your presence makes a difference, said Jane Finan, volunteer services manager at RMHD. We simply couldn't make this event happen without our dedicated volunteers who generously give their time to support our families and spread holiday cheer.

In addition to volunteer opportunities, The Trains at NorthPark will feature several new attractions this year, including the Art on the Rails auction and Choo-Choo Tales live story-time performances, as well as Sensory Hours made possible by Children's Health. The exhibit will be located on Level One in NorthPark Center.

The economic impact of this long-standing tradition extends beyond the direct fundraising benefits. By attracting thousands of visitors to NorthPark Center during the holiday season, The Trains at NorthPark generates significant foot traffic that benefits surrounding retailers and restaurants. This creates a multiplier effect throughout the local economy while supporting a critical community resource for families in medical crisis.

For businesses and corporations in the Dallas area, participation in this volunteer initiative represents an opportunity for meaningful corporate social responsibility engagement. The event provides team-building opportunities while demonstrating corporate commitment to supporting vulnerable families during challenging times. The continued partnership with Bank of Texas highlights how corporate sponsorship can sustain important community traditions that serve both charitable and economic purposes.

The success of The Trains at NorthPark demonstrates how holiday traditions can be leveraged to address serious community needs. By combining entertainment with philanthropy, RMHD has created a sustainable funding model that has supported families for nearly four decades. This approach serves as a model for other nonprofit organizations seeking to establish reliable revenue streams while engaging the broader community in their mission.