Fort Campbell, KY. – I’m sure everyone in and around Fort Campbell has heard of Fisher House, but it would seem that some may not know about the amazing service it provides to the military and their families.
Wendy Carlston, Business Manager described the Fort Campbell Fisher House as a home away from home for military families during a military crisis. As soon as you walk through the door of Fisher House on Post, you realize it truly looks and feels like a home.
Military families can be close to their loved ones who are receiving medical treatment for an illness or injury at Blanchfield Army Community Hospital (BACH) or other local facility. The patient must have a military affiliation but those who stay at Fisher House do not have to be military themselves.
The Fisher House at Fort Campbell features eight bedrooms and can house up to eight families and up to 24 people overnight. Carlston said people will have their own private bedroom and bathroom but they do share the house.
“When they walk in, it’s their home. It gives them a sense of normalcy. It relieves a lot of the stress because they don’t have to think about where am I going to stay and where am I going to get the money to stay there. If you have to stay in a hotel for several weeks, not everybody can afford to do that,” said Carlston.
Carlston said that no one pays to stay at Fisher House, it’s all provided at no cost. She added, “The Army Fisher Houses are funded via NAF, Nonappropriated Funds. We do not have government funding, we are donor funded,” Carlston said.
Since it opened in 2006, the Fort Campbell Fisher House has served around 100 families a year with an average stay of between four to nine days. Carlston said she wanted people to know that even though their priority is for BACH patients Fisher House is still a resource for the community.
If Tennova Healthcare is treating someone in the military or the Tennessee State Veterans Home has a veteran whose family has come to visit and they can’t afford to stay in a hotel, they can contact the Fort Campbell Fisher House to find out if there is a room available.
Carlston said we don’t want our veterans to be forgotten and emphasized she did not want to hear that someone didn’t get a visit because their family doesn’t have the money. “Your veteran needs you, don’t worry about the money, you get yourself here, we’ve got a place for you to stay,” said Carlston.
You’ll find the Fort Campbell Fisher House at 652 Joel Drive on Fort Campbell, right next to Blanchfield Army Community Hospital. To learn more about Fisher House visit www.fortcampbellfisherhouse.org or kyfisherhouse on facebook. You can also call 270-798-8330.