Lisa Patten gave us a presentation about the Evelyn D. Reinhart Guest House at St. Mary’s Hospital.
This nearly new (opened June 9, 2014) fourteen thousand square foot facility has consolidated several smaller houses to serve as the guest house for families of patients at St. Mary’s Hospital and other Bon Secours facilities in Richmond.
Since opening, the facility has served over one thousand families from forty-eight states, coming from more than thirty miles from the hospital. Guests at the house include families of patients or caregivers to patients at the hospital and those there for multi-day outpatient services.
There are sixteen bedrooms that can serve up to six people per room. The facility asks for a donation of $45.00 per night per family, to provide a home-like setting that is convenient to the hospital. Stays for guests in the home normally run from three days to three months.
Lisa told us of the participation and importance of various volunteer groups to help with furnishing meals and serving the guests. The facility does all of this with only three full time and three part-time staff members.
Lisa said that there are always opportunities to help support this mission, both by volunteering and donating. Lisa invited us to call for a tour of the house if interested.
