Greensboro Region Helps Those in Need at the Family House

Guests being served at The Family House in Winston-Salem 

 

The Greensboro region attempts to help the poor and those in need every month, through special programs.

 

On June 9, the 23 Members of the Greensboro region returned to the Family House, a 45-bedroom home for families living outside Winston-Salem who require an extended stay at a local, national hospital for cancer and other health treatments. The Greensboro region provides a complete dinner for the guests four times a year, along with music from a pianist. 

 

The guests come from 36 states and Canada to Baptist Hospital in Winston-Salem for cancer treatments.  Often they have to stay for six weeks or more. For families with incomes, the Family House subsidizes the per-night cost of $35, to a reduced rate, or to zero.  Each of the 45 rooms has two double beds, a sitting area and a bathroom.  On the third floor, there is a large room with multiple washers and dryers for guests needing an extended stay.

 

The spacious kitchen is equipped with industrial refrigerators and freezers, microwaves, private lockers for the guests’ food, and communal refrigerators for those returning to the home late in the evening.  Breakfasts are provided and guests can make their own lunches, for their days in the hospital.  On the night of June 9, the Order prepared and served dinner to those returning after a full day in treatments.  Late evening snacks, apple pies with ice cream and compete dinners were left in the communal refrigerators for those needing sweets or basic food.

 

As a group we sit down with the guests during their meals and inquire about their days. We often say prayers with them and give them words of encouragement. Sometimes we discover common friendships. This most recent night, one of our Knights, a major automotive dealer in the area, renewed an old friendship with another automotive dealer from West Virginia.

 

The Greensboro region seeks some way to help those in need each month.  The Order provides complete Christmas and Easter dinners for 65 Dolan Manor seniors living in government- assisted facilities. Other months, on specific Saturdays, we pallet- pack 25,000 pounds of government food at the Second Harvest Food Bank for monthly distribution to 400 partner agencies in the surrounding 18 counties of northwestern North Carolina.

Tracy Geiger, Family House development director and Donna Kronner sharing a few moments

A friend of the Order of Malta playing the keyboard for the guests

The beginnings of a picnic (burgers, brats and dogs with more to follow from the five-burner grill) at the Family House

Guests of the Family House in Winston-Salem enjoying a meal prepared and served by the Greensboro region to about 50 families on June 9th

Mark Norcross, KM preparing the food for the Family House guests