About
What Is It?
The Houston Fisher House provides a “home away from home” for families and patients receiving medical care within MEDVAMC. It is available free of charge to families of Veterans being treated for long-term illnesses.
Help Needed:
Provide meals or snacks, decorate for various holidays and bring holiday treats, collect needed items, help enhance the landscaping, and other projects. Please check with Fisher House for COVID-related updates.
Details
Minimum Age to Volunteer
None, but volunteers under age 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
Time Commitment
Flexible. In general, volunteer projects may take place from Monday-Thursday 8 AM – 9 PM, and Sundays and Fridays 8 AM – 4:30 PM. If you have an idea of something you would like to do, please contact us and we can see about making it happen.
Suitable for Groups of Volunteers?
Yes
Training Needed
Should enjoy working to serve those who have served.
Help Needed
MEALS AND SNACKS
Meals and snacks can be provided to Fisher House guests. Fisher House normally has between 45-65 guests on any given day. This website has more information. Please contact Fisher House staff regarding specifics and calendar availability.
HOLIDAY EVENTS
Families often stay at Fisher House during the holidays — including Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, Easter, Fourth of July, and Valentine’s Day. Volunteers can help with decorating, special treats, children’s toy drives, or similar projects. Please contact Fisher House staff regarding specifics and calendar availability.
COLLECT NEEDED ITEMS
Fisher House maintains a wish list of commonly needed items, as well as larger items that the manager would like to add and/or replace. The wish list includes items such as paper products, bed linens, coffee, creamer, sugar, gift cards, etc. Please contact Fisher House staff for the most current wish list.
LANDSCAPING
“We welcome volunteers to tend to the gardens on our campus. Although the homes and landscape are maintained by the military base and the Veterans Administration, both are limited in offering enhancements to the landscape. Our volunteers often step in and plant seasonal flowers and shrubbery to make the homes an even more inviting environment, and perform general yard work.”
Contact Details
Contact
Location
FISHER HOUSE – MICHAEL E. DeBAKEY VA MEDICAL CENTER
Houston, Texas 77030
Location Details
Houston, Texas 77030
Additional Information
Fisher House – A Hero’s Story Video (7 minutes 55 seconds) (2014)
Examples of past Scout projects
Eagle: Luke C. (Troop 598) improved the backyard picnic/BBQ area by installing pavers around the barbecue grill, building picnic tables, and created a much-needed sign to direct guests to the correct Fisher House. (2018)
Eagle: Brian D. built picnic table sets for Fisher House III. (2017)
Provided way-finding signage and landscaping.
Gallery
I have volunteered at the MEDVAMC before in the past and is interested in helping out again.
Hi Taylor – The Teen Volunteer program at the VA Hospital is full for this summer – https://www.houston.va.gov/giving/Teen_Volunteer_Program.asp — but you might want to take a look at Fisher House on ServeforGood. It’s part of the VA Hospital campus and welcomes volunteers. Thank you for helping the veterans!