Many of you have participated in our capital campaign to help build Fisher Houses in Ann Arbor and Detroit. Now, you have another opportunity to make an impact for families staying in a Fisher House!

The VA Ann Arbor Fisher House Manager has asked for a discrete list of items, which can be found on our Amazon Wish List If you prefer not to shop online, you can send a check in the mail and we will shop for you. Please indicate “Fisher House Family Support” in the memo line, so we know how to properly apply your gift.

Other ways to help:

The VA Ann Arbor Fisher House Manager has given us the following guidance about volunteering at the House:

Volunteers:

VA Ann Arbor Fisher House will need some regularly scheduled volunteers (those who would be able to commit to a few hours each week or bi-weekly) for the following positions:

• Kitchen Coordinator: someone who is extremely organized, loves to cook who will help keep the kitchen organized, help with the weekly grocery list/inventory, maybe do some light baking in the kitchen—cookies, muffins, bread, etc.

• Gardening/Outdoor Assistant: this would actually be more seasonal but would involve keeping the porches/back patio swept, patio furniture wiped down, perhaps planting/watering potted plants — expect to need a volunteer for this position at this time who could come 1-2 x’s per week for a few hours.

We have already recruited enough volunteers for the Guest Relations Assistant for now (who will work with our staff to help check in/out guests, drive the golf cart to shuttle guests to/from the medical center as needed, etc.).  We may want to recruit more volunteers later as the program grows but not now.

For these positions, interested volunteers would need to contact April LaRock directly. The VA Ann Arbor Fisher House staff will be arranging “interviews” to discuss further since regularly scheduled volunteers would actually need to complete an application with our Voluntary Services office and complete a Volunteer Orientation session, receive credentials, etc. 

The other volunteer opportunities will be those who are intermittent, maybe want to volunteer less than once per month or only for special occasions such as the Dedication on June 19th, decorating for the holidays, signing up to cook meals for the families, etc.  Those intermittent volunteers would not have to complete an application or register with Voluntary Services.  April is presently collecting names/contact information of these individuals so that the VA Ann Arbor Fisher House staff can just reach out to them as needed.

Thank you for your support,

April  D. LaRock, LMSW

Fisher House Manager , VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System

Phone: (734) 845-3055

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Additional funds still needed:

The capital campaign is ongoing. We have raised $7.5 million of our $20 million goal, but we still need your help. With the Fisher House at VA Ann Arbor opening this spring, we hope others will learn of the importance of the Fisher House mission, and help us raise funds and awareness for Detroit and beyond!

Stay tuned for opportunities to double your impact during the Memorial Day Match and the Patriots Pledge!