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Recognizing a shared commitment to serving Soldiers and families, officials from Installation Management Command – Europe presented a check for nearly $70,000 to the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center Fisher Houses July 29 during a presentation ceremony at the command’s headquarters.
JoAnn Chambers, IMCOM-Europe chief of staff, presented an oversized check for $69,985.51 to Kathy Gregory, manager of the Landstuhl Fisher Houses during the
ceremony.
“Today we have the opportunity to recognize our shared commitment to our Soldiers and families,” said Ms. Chambers. “This check symbolizes IMCOM-Europe’s appreciation for the valuable mission the Fisher House performs given our like missions to support Soldiers and families. “The Fisher House performs a valuable
mission supporting America’s military in their time of need by providing ‘a home away from home’ that enables family members to be close to loved ones at the most stressful time – during hospitalization for an illness, disease or injury,” said Ms. Chambers.
According to Chaplain (Col.) James May, IMCOM-Europe chaplain, churchgoers from garrison chapels throughout Europe donated during a two-month period of “designated giving” organized by IMCOM-Europe chaplains.
“There are few greater purposes in life than taking care of our fellow people. As IMCOM-Europe pushes forward with its Army Europe Family Covenant and the Fisher House continues to provide the outstanding service it does for Soldiers and families, we fulfill that purpose,” said Chaplain May. “The ministry of religious support extends to the overall mental, physical and spiritual well-being of Soldiers and families. The Fisher House is committed to Soldier and family care and the chapel families of Europe are pleased to share in this vital support provided through the goodwill and caring staff of Fisher House, Landstuhl.”
This is the seventh year Europe-based chapels have made the voluntary donation and the third year since IMCOM-Europe stood up in 2005. IMCOM-Europe garrison chapels have donated more than $220,000 total in the past three years.
“For the two Fisher Houses at Landstuhl Army Regional Medical Center, the contri-bution is monumental,” said Ms. Gregory. “The enormous community-wide support that the chapels offer cannot be duplicated anywhere else. This is almost one-third of our annual donation goal.”
Ms. Gregory explained that all of the donation will be used to make Fisher Houses a more welcoming and comfortable “home away from home” for servicemembers’ families who are visiting someone in the hospital. With the age of the houses at this time, furniture replacement is a big need which will be addressed.
The yearly budget for both Landstuhl Fisher Houses is $290,000. Of that amount, approximately $205,000 is their donation goal.
“To receive a check of this size is heart-warming. It shows just how all our families are in everyone’s heart and prayers. When a family knows they are not alone, it is very reassuring,” said Ms. Gregory.
Landstuhl Fisher House I and II are less than a five-minute walk from LRMC, the largest American hospital outside the United States. The first Fisher House, with eight rooms, opened in 2001; the second one, with 11 rooms, opened the following year. Ms. Gregory said Fisher House I and II have hosted more than 6,000 families since they opened – about 90 families a month. In 2007, the facilities hosted 1,184 families.
(Courtesy of U.S. Army Installation Management Command, Europe Region)
