Update from Fisher House Michigan

Fisher House Foundation just concluded a conference call with the VA Central Office and Fisher House Managers from VA Medical Centers across the nation (March 24, 2020). This is the latest information available to share:

• VA medical centers are only allowing essential visitors on the campus in order to limit the spread of the COVID-19 at their facility. This protective measure for patients, family members, and medical center staff is crucial to ensuring the medical center's continued ability to provide critical medical care.
  

• "Essential visitor" is a vary narrow pool. At some medical centers, essential visitor is limited to a single adult (over 18 years old) visiting an end of life patient (less than 48 hours). For this reason, the VA expects referrals for families to stay in the Fisher House will be minimal.
  

• Designated VAMCs have closed their Fisher House and, with Fisher House Foundation's blessing, temporarily re-purposed the house to accommodate critical hospital staff during this crisis. Fisher House Foundation fully supports this decision. We expect the Fisher House at VA Ann Arbor will open in the coming weeks, and it may be used for this purpose at that time. With your help, FHM is standing by to support this house's temporary mission.

How Can You Help?

Fisher House Michigan will coordinate delivery of the following gifts and supplies you donate for the VA Ann Arbor and VA Detroit Medical Centers:

• Visa gift cards or grocery gift cards for FH staff to purchase food for hospital staff staying in a Fisher House. Note: Any unused gift cards will be used to support FH families in the future, when circumstances allow the doors of the VA Ann Arbor Fisher House to re-open for military and Veteran families and caregivers. 
  

• As always, if you are in a position to help, we appreciate your cash gifts (via check or online donation) to continue our mission of supporting our Michigan heroes, their families & caregivers.
  

• PPE: N95 masks, face shields, and home-sewn masks to supplement current supplies on hand at VA Ann Arbor and VA Detroit.

  • Note: The CDC allows flexibility in what materials are used in times of critical supply shortages and the Director at VA Ann Arbor has suggested face masks would be a tangible way for our Michigan community to help. Watch our Facebook Page for patterns and tutorials. Find out more ››

Please send gifts and supplies to:

Fisher House Michigan

PO Box 130466

Ann Arbor, MI 48113 

Many of you have loved ones or friends who have been affected by the COVID-19 outbreak. This is one way to help. 

On behalf of the Board of Directors, please stay home, stay healthy, and God Bless. 

Kate Melcher
ED, Fisher House Michigan