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San Antonio Chapter Members Donate Pizza Dinners to the Lackland Fisher House
August 31, 2006. The San Antonio Chapter A-35s hosted a pizza dinner at the Lackland AFB Fisher House, providing meals for approximately 20 Fisher House guests as well as Fisher House manager, Paula Lewis and the Chapter volunteers who attended the dinner. Originally, SSgt Katrina Edwards, who is currently assigned to the Joint Personal Property Shipping Office in San Antonio, planned for a potluck dinner. When there weren't enough volunteers to make the potluck aspect workable, Katrina did not let that stand in the way. She contacted Fisher House management and got the okay to change to a pizza and sodas dinner. Then, through Chapter e-mail, she solicited donations to purchase pizza and sodas. Sufficient funds were raised--Katrina made arrangements to pick up pizza and cinnamon sticks from a pizza shop close by Lackland, bought canned sodas and iced them down and delivered everything to the Fisher House last evening (31 Aug). There were some of us there to have dinner and socialize with the Fisher House staff and residents and help clean up afterwards: SSgts Katrina Edwards, Regina Green and Joan Scott, Paul Davis, Georgia Fisher, Marian Fisher and Rufus Reed.
Ms. Paula Lewis, Lackland Fisher House Manager, expressed her sincere gratitude to the San Antonio Chapter A-35 members for making the arrangements and to all Chapter members for their generous contributions.
FISHER HOUSE INFORMATION
A Fisher House™ is "a home away from home" for families of patients receiving medical care at major military and VA medical centers. The homes are normally located within walking distance of the treatment facility or have transportation available. There are 32 Fisher Houses™ located on 17 military installations and six VA medical centers.
Fisher Houses are given to the U. S. Government as gifts. Military service secretaries and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs are responsible for the operation and maintenance of the homes. The Fisher House™ Foundation, Inc., a not-for-profit organization under section 501(c)(3) of the IRS code, builds new houses, and assists in the coordination of private support and encourages public support for the homes.
Eligibility to stay in a Fisher House is established locally by hospital or installation commanders. Cost varies by location. The average charge for lodging in 2005 was less than $10 per family per day. Ten locations offer free lodging. Ten locations, to include all VA Fisher Houses, offer free lodging. Families of service members hospitalized due to service in Iraq or Afghanistan do not pay the daily fee.
In addition to constructing new houses, Fisher House Foundation continues to support existing Fisher Houses and help individual military families in need. Families and friends of patients at any of the military's hospitals can now receive up-to-the-minute reports on a loved one by going to the patient's own customized web page, thanks to new services provided through CaringBridge. The Foundation also administers and sponsors scholarships for military children, the Hero Miles program, and co-sponsors the Newman's Own Award.
Volunteers: Fisher Houses have full-time salaried managers, but depend on volunteers and voluntary support to enhance daily operations and program expansion. The Fisher House Foundation, Inc., and many individual Fisher Houses receive support through the Combined Federal Campaign.
For the families of seriously ill or injured patients receiving treatment at Wilford Hall Medical Center, their are three Lackland Fisher Houses. Families who meet the eligibility criteria and are accepted as guests stay without cost. There is never a charge for lodging, food, or services.
For more information, link to the Fisher House Foundation and/or the Lackland Fisher House
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