Illinois citizens supported a two-year, Illinois fundraising campaign sponsored and spearheaded by DMS Pharmaceutical Group, Inc. of Park Ridge, IL to raise the majority of the $1.75 million necessary to be matched by the Fisher House Foundation for construction of a $5.7 million Fisher House on Hines VA Hospital grounds

Following the local, grass-roots drive to raise funds for construction, it became apparent that further fundraising efforts are vital to support year-round operations of this Hines VA "home away from home" for military families when it opens fall of 2009.

The humanitarian need fulfilled by the Fisher House program is not one provided by the
Departments of Defense or Veterans Administration.

Once the 20-private-bedroom-suite Hines Fisher House is constructed in fall 2009, the Fisher House Foundation will present it as a gift to Hines VA. From that point on, funding staffing, operations and maintenance becomes the full responsibility of Hines VA.
Hines administration has indicated the strong need for support to ensure that year-round lodging and other services are provided free of charge to veterans and their families.

Hines is designated by the VA as a VA national polytrauma site. In this capacity, the medical facility is treating younger veterans returning from Iraq with multiple trauma injuries like traumatic brain injuries.  This requires more patients traveling longer distances.  These complicated injuries require longer hospital stays, which will make the Fisher House for Hines that much more important.
Both the Hines Spinal Cord Injury and Blind Rehabilitation Center programs minister to almost 900 Operation Iraqi and Enduring Freedom veterans with long stays.

These two Centers, alone, draw patients from a total of 17 states: Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Wyoming plus parts of Oklahoma and Pennsylvania.

In addition, Hines VA Hospital continues to service the medical needs of 300,000 Illinois veterans with 536,600 outpatient visits a year. Many of them travel long distances within Illinois for out-patient treatment and cannot afford overnight lodging at motels. These veterans will also qualify for free lodging at the Hines Fisher House.

THE HINES VA HOSPITAL WISH LIST:

INCLUDES EVERY POSSIBLE NORMAL, EVERYDAY NEED FOR A FAMILY:

Food for Cooking Meals in the Community Kitchen:

Fresh or frozen meat, fish, poultry; frozen and fresh vegetables, eggs, bread, bread rolls, canned soups, butter, margarine, flour, fruit, cereal, cake mixes, brownie mixes, muffin mixes, milk, tea, coffee, sugar, honey, artificial sweeteners;

Communications Materials:

Computers, printers, printing paper, writing paper, ink cartridges, note pads, pencils, pens, marker, crayons;

House Cleaning Supplies:

Laundry detergent, bleach, spot cleaning sprays, dishwashing soap, pot scrapers, floor cleaners, mops, buckets, vacuum cleaners, window cleaning solutions, furniture polish, cleaning cloths, rubber gloves in variety of sizes to protect hands;

Paper Goods:

Napkins, toilet tissue, facial tissue; paper towel rolls;

Personal Toiletries:

Shampoos for men, women and children, bath soap, shower gels, hair conditioner, body lotion, hand cream, hair spray, hair styling gel;

Children’s Needs for All Ages:

Diapers, formula, toys, games, puzzles, coloring books and crayons;

Adult & Children’s  Entertainment:

Movies, video games, tabletop games, puzzles etc. 

In addition, Friends of Fisher House-IL has pledged to provide funds for special needs to enhance the lives of military families and veterans while they are Hines Fisher House guests.