BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) – As far back as I can remember, even when I was young, my mom used to bring me and my siblings volunteering. So it just sort of, became a piece of me.” said Christina Schumacher, a Hope Lodge Volunteer .
“I starter out being a patient advocate over in the hospital. I just heard wonderful things about what they are doing over here. What better way to figure out what’s going on over there myself and do some volunteering.” said Cole Royer
It’s a really important resource in our community. It’s here to help cancer patients and their caregivers get the support they need. It’s completely free for them to stay here while they’re going through treatment.” said Nicole Jorgensen, a Senior Development Manager for American Cancer Society.
“An open house like this is super important because a lot of folks may not even know the Hope Lodge exists.” said Schumacher
“It’s just an important thing for the community. A lot of people, like I say, aren’t really aware of what exists here and by having this open house it provides that avenue.” said Rob Clark, a Hope Lodge Resident
“We’re always looking for volunteers. The Hope Lodge has opportunities for volunteering. You can cook a meal. You can come do an activity. Everyone’s been touched by cancer and it is a way to show our local community and cancer survivors that their whole community is behind them.”said Jorgensen
“Just interacting with other cancer patients, you know sharing their experiences and hopefully sharing what you’ve been through with them to hopefully help them to get through some very difficult times.” said Clark
“If a patient wants to talk, sometimes they just need somebody to talk to, and being able to be here and provide support for them and making sure their experience here is one that makes them feel at home even though they are going through a rough time.” said Scumacher
“I help out with dinners every Tuesday. I get to sit down and have some really nice conversations with folks. We serve the community and what better way than to hear their voices and make sure it’s always an open door, you know?” said Royer
“It’s just nice to be able to have a place where you can stay and kind of catch your breath and do what you have to do to be able to, like I said, have a home away from home. It’s like staying at the Hilton Hotel or something almost.” said Clark
“You make lifelong friendships here.” said Clark “We’re very blessed to have a facility so wonderful and so close to the main hospital that it’s a dream come true. It’s a real, true miracle.”
