The US Army has a program similar to Ronald McDonald House called Fisher House. They are comfortable, temporary homes filled with warm, caring people who help families endure the stresses associated with a loved one's serious medical condition. Family members of an active duty or retired service member who is being treated at the nearby military hospital pay only $10.00* per night to stay in a Fisher House. In some locations, outpatients may also stay in the house. The typical stay is about 10 days but guest can stay as long as necessary...even up to a year if their military loved one needs extensive treatment.Fisher House™ Foundation and the Fisher House™ program depends on public donations to continue its important work; the Army provides no financial support. The funding for the operations and maintenance of Army Fisher Houses comes primarily from two sources: the small service charge ($10 per family-night) and your charitable contributions.
Here's your Good Karma Friday opportunities...
Donate Money!
Donated money is used to improve facilities, provide amenities for the guests, celebrate holidays, and enhance the range of services provided.
- You can make a donation to benefit all the Army Fisher Houses by sending a check to the program's main office. Click here for the address.
- You can make a donation to a specific house through the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC).
- You can send a check directly to a specific Fisher House.
Note: Donations made to a specific Army Fisher House are spent on that house.
The nonprofit Fisher House Foundation administers the "Hero Miles" program for the Department of Defense. Through this program, frequent flyer members of designated airlines can donate their miles to the Fisher House Foundation who provides free airline tickets to military men and women and their families who are undergoing treatment at a military or VA medical center as a result of their service in Iraq or Afghanistan.
Donate Time!
Fisher Houses depend on volunteers like you! All volunteering is done at the local level, and not through the Fisher House Foundation in Rockville, MD. Contact the manager of a Fisher House near you either by telephone or e-mail. The manager will let you know what they need help with.
1 comment:
I appreciate the comments and description of the program, but am obliged to ensure readers have factual information:
1. There are 43 Fisher Houses and they support medical centers of the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Department of Veterans Affairs -- not just the Army.
2. Family members of any individual authorized care at the adjacent medical center are eligible to stay at a Fisher House. At VA Fisher Houses, this will include families of veterans as well.
3. There is no charge to stay at any Fisher House. Fisher House Foundation has been reimbursing the military the $10 per night fee since 2006.
4. While the program does depend on public support to continue its important work, the Army does provide funding -- from nonappropriated funds. There are three revenue streams for the houses: the interest from trust funds maintained by each of the military departments, the daily billeting fee which is now paid by Fisher House Foundation, and voluntary donations.
5. A CFC donation to a specific Fisher House can only be made in the local CFC campaign where the particular house is located.
Complete information on the Fisher House program can be found at www.fisherhouse.org, or Fisher House Foundation can respond to specific questions sent to info@fisherhouse.org
Thank you. We appreciate the support.
James D. Weiskopf
Executive Vice President, Communications
Fisher House Foundation
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