SURELY GOODNESS

Fisher House, the “Ronald McDonald House” of the military

Posted

“They come here in devastating crisis, often from long distances, sometimes from halfway around the world,” Rachael Waters of the local Fisher House explained about the people who check into Fisher House for their loved ones at Madigan Army Medical Center at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

Fisher House supports relatives of wounded and ill soldiers, sailors and marines, some of whom have been airlifted to the hospital.

The adults and children who stay at Fisher House are within families in crisis. “They often have no time to prepare for the trip here and arrive with only the clothing on their backs,” she explains, “not even a toothbrush, and often have been without food or drink for a long stretch.” Due to the timing of flights and of other transport, this sort of thing happens in the emergency rush to follow loved ones. 

The house, staff, and volunteers complete their work quietly for the good of active military, veterans, and their families. It is the “Ronald McDonald House” of the Armed Forces. It is part of the Fisher House Foundation, a nonprofit organization serving all military branches. Families can stay up to 179 days as needed and, when full, eligible families are accommodated at hotels completely using the Hotels for Heroes program. Airfare can be provided through the Hero Miles program using donated air miles.

The local Fisher House, is just outside of Madigan, , was established in 1994. It was the fifth Fisher House in the nation, and in 2015, an additional building was added. The original house was built with seven guest suites, and the second with 12. Other northwest sites include VA Puget Sound Seattle (20 suites) and a house with 16 suites near Portland (it’s in the southeast side of Vancouver, actually).

Letaua Hunkin is the Operations Assistant at the JBLM Army Fisher House. The houses are open 24 hours per day and 365 days per year.

“They provided a place for my daughter to lay her head!” exclaimed Mary Blake, whose daughter stayed at one of the Fisher Houses for three months, “along with food and water when she arrived, toiletries, clothing appropriate for the climate, and a safe haven. Without the Fisher House, I can't even imagine how much worse things would have been!” She also appreciated the sense of community and caring.

All told, there are 93 Fisher Houses in the US and abroad. Their website slogan is “Looking to 100!” The Fisher House Foundation was established by philanthropists Zachary and Elizabeth Fisher, a married couple with no military connections. The idea took root in 1986, and they built their first house in Maryland in 1990. The couple, now deceased, dedicated more than $20 million to constructing comfort homes.

“l really enjoy working in an environment of giving to the community,” Rachael Waters stated, “so the Army Fisher House at JBLM is a wonderful fit for my interests and experience.” Rachael started working at the Fisher House last fall. She has a history of volunteering with the Family Readiness Group (FRG) program, a broad-based program that works to build strong families in the service and bridge gaps. “I married an active duty service member in 2010 and was his unit’s FRG leader for 2 years.” She explained, “I have spent a significant amount of time volunteering for different family and spouse organizations at JBLM and other duty stations overseas.” Rachael was chosen as volunteer of the month by Northwest Guardian magazine for October 2012, and in 2013 was nominated by the 201st Battlefield Surveillance Brigade as their choice for the Mary E. Walker volunteer award.

Rachael Waters led me on a tour of the comfortable suites, a community kitchen with individual storage areas, a dining room, a family room, and a living room. Volunteers and voluntary organizations provide a well-stocked pantry, hot meals on certain days (Taco Tuesday, for example), gift cards, and other supplies for daily life. They decorate for each holiday and provide gifts, often with an eye toward guests with children. Locally, they currently have 94 individuals who regularly help, referred to as “angel volunteers.”  

The JBLM Fisher Houses gratefully accept donations of supplies and funding, as well as help from organizational or individual volunteers.

To find out how you might contribute, call 253-967-8362  or email  donations@fisherhouse.org 

Shirley Stirling, of Lacey, writes about good things people in Thurston County are doing. If you’d like to nominate someone to be profiled, contact her at shirley@theJOLTnews.com or comment below.

Comments

No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here