2019 Evelyn D. Reinhart Guest House Impact Report

EVELYN D. REINHART
GUEST HOUSE
2019
IMPACT REPORT

2019 WAS AMAZING FOR
THE GUEST HOUSE!
In December, we surpassed a remarkable
milestone serving more than 8,000 families
since opening our doors five years ago. It is
humbling and inspiring to know more than 1,200
families per year seek respite here to be with
a loved one while they seek quality medical care.
We are here to help relieve a part of the burden.
When a family is checking in at 1:00 am after a
stressful journey, we welcome them with open
arms. The heart and soul of the Guest House is to
shower guests with hospitality and to comfort them through in-kind
donations like healthy meals and handwritten notes. We support
the daily needs of our guests through the continuous support
of volunteers and through generous donations like household
supplies, hospital-to-go bags, and many more wish list items; these
contributions also help sustain our operation. Our mission represents
faith, hope and an opportunity to deliver families to wholeness in a
home away from home.
Amidst the devastation of the 1824 French Revolution, the founding
Sisters of Bon Secours delivered hospitality and support to the sick,
the dying, and the poor in their homes. We also aim to serve those
in need, especially the most vulnerable guests. It is our honor to
provide this hospitality regardless of a family’s ability to pay.
“
Do not
neglect to
show hospitality
to strangers, for
by this some have
entertained angels,
without nowing it. ”
– Hebrews 13:2
Lisa Patten,
Executive
Director
We have been extremely blessed by the notes and stories of
gratitude from our guests that we plan to compile them in a
book with the help of the University of Richmond Bonner
Center — one of many partnerships that enrich the
mission and the lives we touch. Stay tuned!
We cannot serve these families without our donors,
the Bon Secours family, our healthcare partners,
our volunteers, the guests we serve, and
our expanding community of followers.
Thank you.

2019
YEAR IN REVIEW
BY THE NUMBERS
1,705
FAMILIES
SERVED
WITH AN
AVERAGE
STAY OF
2.5 DAYS
MORE THAN
1,400
GUESTS COULD NOT AFFORD
THE SUGGESTED DAILY ROOM
RATE OF $45.00
FAMILIES FROM
47STATES
OUR
FAMILIES
SAVED
MORE THAN
$570,000
because our room rate is $155 less than
the average hotel in Richmond
GUEST HOUSE GROWTH
OCCUPANCY & NIGHTS SERVED
ROOM
NIGHTS
3,690
140
Guest meals
made by volunteers
RAISED MORE THAN
$68,000
PERCENTAGE
20 40 60 80 100
877
nights
26%
2,280
nights
2,204
nights
2,961
nights
3,610
nights
3,690
nights
39% 38% 51% 62% 64%
2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
504 VOLUNTEER
HOURS

THE CORNERSTONE OF OUR MISSION
Our volunteers that teach,
inspire, empower, connect and
define our ministry of hospitality
are the cornerstone of our
mission. Susanne Mitten started
faithfully volunteering at the
Guest House when her son,
Cameron Mitten, began high
school nearly 6 years ago. He
was so inspired by watching her
help others that he gathered a
group of his friends and they
started volunteering. Last year,
the group won an award for
their philanthropic efforts.
nonprofit organization, Pink and
Pearls, she met Tina, a vivacious
mother and spiritual warrior
who was receiving treatment
at St. Mary’s Hospital. Susanne
mentioned the Guest House to
Tina and she learned that her
family was eligible to stay with
us since they lived over 30 miles
away. When Tina had surgery,
her husband, Garcia, and their
children stayed with us for a
week and again later in the year
for another week.
Because of Susanne’s heart for
our community, she was able to
connect us with a great family
and another organization with
a similar mission. Her efforts
came back around full circle.
Cycles of support just like the
story of Susanne and Tina are
what make volunteering so
important to us.
Over the years, Sussanne and
Cameron’s high school frends
have made monthly dinners for
our families and has increased
her involvement to also
volunteer every Monday. She’s
an active volunteer throughout
the Richmond community and
while working with another
Volunteering is so
much more than
providing us a service;
it is providing families
with the comforts of
home and easing their
hearts during trying
times--and sometimes
it is connecting a
family with Guest
House so they can, in
turn, be relieved from
their burdens.

EMMETTE’S JOURNEY
I genuinely believe that the Lord
sends you where you need to
be, and through my husband
Emmette’s care – this is where
we needed to be.
We came to St. Mary’s this past
September for an appointment
with Dr. Roberta Bogaev in
cardiology after other hospitals
and doctors had told us that
there was nothing else they
could do.
Late September through
November, with code blues,
stomach bleeds and a stroke,
Emmette’s condition was
fluctuating to the extremes.
One of the nicest things they did
was LET me do the dishes.
They understood my need to
stay busy and distracted. Helping
fold laundry, do the dishes and
organize my own room was a
gift and a way for me to have
control when I felt like I didn’t
have control over anything.
Sandy was the
featured guest speaker
at Rockin’ on the
Avenue 2019
The Guest House became my
home through all of this. I was
emotionally exhausted; I missed
my own home and my family
and friends.
But the love and compassion
I felt here each time I
walked through these
doors brought me
peace and comfort.
Emmette needed
me, and I needed
them.
Sandy &
Emmette
They remembered my birthday.
November 5th was a particularly
emotional day, but I was greeted
with balloons and a cake!
Dr. Bogaev knows the value
of the Guest House and the
importance of having loved
ones nearby as she cares for
her patients. I was able to carry
that level of synergy with me
as I engaged with the other
families here.
I bonded with children in town
for therapy and a woman who
was caring for her mother. I was

ROCK
IN’
ON THE AVENU E
featured guest speaker
Sandy Mohler
“I believe the
Lord sends
you where you
need to be.
I was greeted
with open
arms by the
friendly and
understanding
staff and
volunteers
at the Guest
House. This
became my
home away
from home and
I will forever
be grateful.”
even able to visit her mother
when she had to go back home
for a while.
The staff and volunteers here
not only bring care and comfort;
they inspired us to share
that same care and comfort
with others that are facing
uncertainty and fear.
But I will say – the most
important thing Lisa, Scott and
the others told me was that it
was OK. It was OK to be scared.
It was OK to be tired. It was OK
to rest. It was OK to not be OK.
The Guest House is warm and
inviting and I will always be
grateful for the unbelievable
love and compassion shown
to me.
It takes a village to run
a beautiful home – and
I see an incredible
village here in front
of me.
CONTACT US!
Evelyn D. Reinhart Guest House
1100 Libbie Avenue
Richmond, Virginia 23226
804-287-7300
reinharthouse.org