HHN News
Rosenbaum House
Morgantown, WV
WVU Equine Studies Donation
On January 25th, we were honored to receive a generous donation of $1000 from the WVU Equine Studies Program for our Adopt a Day/Week program and the Rosenbaum Family House Care & Comfort Fund. Thanks to the entry fees collected during the program’s Ugly Christmas Sweater Horse Show held in December, they were able to raise enough money to adopt a week. This donation will provide support for families by paying for their room balance. Continuing our partnership with WVU Equine Studies Program Brandon Cook, associate director of development at the Rosenbaum Family House, and Crystal Smith are discussing bringing guests to the Ugly Christmas Sweater Horse Show scheduled for December this year. Additionally, they plan to add a new component to the next show, which will allow WVU organizations to visit the J.W. Ruby Research, Education, and Outreach Center to make stuffed horses for children at WVU Medicine. “Some of our guests are long-term guests who are there for months at a time,” Cook said. “This donation has sparked a partnership between us, and it’s one that will benefit our guests tremendously.”
New Beds and New Collaborations
Thanks to the WVU Medicine Planning and Design RIPIT committee, we recently received 80 platform beds, which will provide our guests with even more comfort while they heal. We were not only thrilled by this news, but we were also excited because it allowed us to work with a few local non-profits to make sure our used beds got even more use. Project Rainbow and Bartlett Housing Solutions are two non-profits in Morgantown dedicated to aiding the most vulnerable members of our community in their fight against homelessness. Project Rainbow's Rainbow House not only provides immediate shelter to LGBTQIA+ people experiencing, but they also offer therapy, housing assistance, and caseworkers to support their clients in any way they need. Bartlett Housing Solutions provides permanent housing for those in need, as well as support services to help them regain control over their lives and health. We are proud to have supported these non-profits in our community and will continue to do so in any way we can. Knowing that our beds will be appreciated and well used is a great feeling, especially considering how expensive they can be.
Safety First
We are currently in the process of having grab bars put into our showers and around all toilets in all 40 of our rooms. Thanks to Mary Babb Randolph Cancer Center Patient Experience Committee, we found that this was a popular request. The committee will be donating five shower chairs as well as raised toilet seats. We always strive to not only make our guests’ experiences more comfortable, but also safer.
Donation Station - January
For the past two years, Cayla Davis and Christy Paboucek have been a tremendous help to the Rosenbaum Family House, organizing wish list drives in memory of their father and husband, Rob. When Rob was in the hospital, they stayed at the Family House, and have continued to give back to us in many ways. Their dedication is a wonderful tribute to their loved one, and we are grateful for their continued support. Thank you, Paboucek family, for all that you do. The supplies you provide mean the world to our families.
Souper Bowl
The Kansas City Chiefs may have won the Super Bowl, but on January 7th, one of our staff members won the first Souper Bowl! Six of our staff members cooked homemade soups for our guests, while our guests voted on their favorite. The contenders were Tonya with Italian wedding soup, Pam with beef vegetable, John with hot and sour soup, Kim with taco soup, Dana with chicken noodle, and Karol with vegetable soup. All were incredibly delicious, but the winner was Kim with her taco soup! Congrats to Kim on her win, and thank you to our staff for making this event so much fun for our guests who were talking about it for days after.
Donation Station – February
Thank you to WVU College of Law class of 2026 for providing over 40 Valentine's Day comfort packs for our guests. The packs contained water, snacks, Valentine’s Day candy, and hand-written notes of encouragement. Kayla Brown, the class community service chair, shared why their class chose this project. “I am always trying to find unique ways to give back to the community of Morgantown. Traveling to and from the hospital can be a stressful time for patients and caregivers alike. The Valentine's Day-themed comfort bags allowed us to get together as a class and pack bags for your families while providing each one with a personalized touch!” With February being the month of love, their small act of kindness towards our guests is truly appreciated.
WVU Biochemistry Club Provides Comfort in Crafts
The WVU Biochemistry Club took a few hours out of a Saturday to provide a Crafternoon for our guests. The students helped our guests make Valentine's Day cards for their loved ones in the hospital or back at home. This is the club's second activity with us, and we are so grateful that they have provided our guests with fun distractions!
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