By Michelle Ruschman
Publisher’s Note: Our area is blessed with several military installations, serving thousands of military personnel and possessing a significant deployment commitment. Consequently, our family and friends in the military are continuously placed in harm’s way. Fortunately, we have Fisher House, which provides a home away from home with no fee, where our military and their families from throughout the U.S. receive caring, unconditional support.
Fisher House of the Emerald Coast is a tangible “thank you” for those who have served in the military. Located on Eglin Air Force Base, across the street from the hospital and VA Clinic, this nearly 11,000 square foot five-star facility includes 12 private suites, a large common kitchen and areas where guests can rest and renew. Any time a military member or family member is being treated at any local medical facility, they are eligible to use the Fisher House.
The idea of Fisher House first started in the 1970s when Pauline Trost, the wife of Admiral Trost, saw an injured combat veteran return home and wondered where the family would stay during this time of crisis. She knew high-priced hotels would only add a financial burden to an already difficult time. This thought never left her and it led to a critical partnership. Pauline brought the need for housing to her husband, and he reached out to Zachary and Elizabeth Fisher who were builders, philanthropists and patriots. They caught the vision immediately and went to work. Since then, the Fishers have donated more than $20 million in the building of homes that receive families of hospitalized military personnel, free of charge. Today, the number of homes has grown to 92 throughout the U.S. Fisher House of the Emerald Coast, our area’s own, was built in 2010 and was number 48.
In 2019, Fisher House of the Emerald Coast hosted more than 1,100 guests and provided 2,900 bed nights, saving military families over $290,000 in lodging.
It is the goal of Mia Hughes, our local Fisher House’s Executive Director, for Fisher House of the Emerald Coast to be a home away from home when our military members need it the most. “If it’s the birth of a baby and grandma doesn’t live here but wants to come, she can stay at Fisher House. We’ve also had babies that were delivered, but mom got ill and couldn’t be around the baby,” Mia says. “They’ve stayed at our house so they could be close. On the other end of the spectrum, we’ve also had guests who were dealing with end-of-life situations and were in their last stages. During the pandemic, however, because it’s a military installation, they restricted some of the access. Life-ending scenarios were given higher priority.”
“Many of our guests will only stay a few days, but our record is 13 months,” Mia continued. “One family had a member going through oncology treatments and they were able to stay here. Before that, a guest of 11 months was blinded during the battle in Afghanistan, and he used our home for therapy. Fisher House was built to help lighten their load.”
Fisher House of the Emerald Coast serves every branch of the military from Pensacola to Panama City. So, guests will not be more than an hour from the therapies and services they require.
Fundraising efforts are continual; monies raised provide much needed funding to the house to support the operation and the maintenance of the home, and to provide the families with any necessary items needed during their stay. Are you interested in partnering with Fisher House? Mark your calendar to attend the Fisher House gala on October 27th with guest speaker Joey Jones, Fox News Contributor and former marine who lost both his legs in combat.
There are additional unique ways you can help as well. “We’ve had corporate teams come for one week in the spring and fall to help clean the house,” says Mia. “They do it for team building and we’re always so grateful for the extra help. It’s their way of giving back.”
“We also have a young guy who lives in Birmingham, and his mom, who was a volunteer, passed away in 2016. On the anniversary of her passing, he comes to the Fisher House and makes her recipe for Cornish Hens for those there at the time. It’s his memorial tribute to his mom and he does it every year he can,” she says.
Fisher House accepts meal donations, enough for eight to 12 people, on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Because Covid protocols are still in place, the food needs to come from local restaurants. Although the fridge is always fully stocked, these needed donations bridge the gap. If guests have specific dietary needs or desires, the staff does their best to accommodate them as well to make the stay easier. As Mia says, “We love making people happy and want this to feel like home.”
If you’d like to learn more, go to fisherhouseemeraldcoast.org or you can reach Mia Hughes directly at Director@fisherhouseemeraldcoast.org or 850-259-4956.
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