Hope Lodge Baltimore

08/29/2024

You can help build the future, larger Hope Lodge Baltimore that will offer 3,000 more free night stays on top of the 13,000 free nights presently offered to cancer patients who travel long distance for treatment. Sponsors & auction items needed for the Evening of Hope on Nov.13, which supports the Capital Campaign to construct the new Hope Lodge. Contact [email protected]. Tickets are available to this lovely, inspiring event! Hope Lodge is consistently occupied and needs more guest rooms!

08/27/2024

Thank you to -Turner Construction for being a sponsor of the American Cancer Society Evening of Hope, dedicated to the Hope Lodge Baltimore Capital Campaign for the future, larger, reimagined 34-room Hope Lodge which will provide an additional 3,000 free nights of free lodging for cancer patients and their caregivers who travel to Baltimore for treatment.

Evening of Hope
Museum of Industry, 1415 Key Highway, Baltimore
Weds., November 13, 6-9 p.m.
Awards ceremony: 6:45 p.m.
Cocktail Reception
Strolling Dinner
Silent Auction
For tickets or sponsor information, email: [email protected] or go to:
EVENINGHOPEMD24.GIVESMART.COM

08/26/2024

John and Angie Murphy married as teenagers, and 35 years later remain devoted to each other through better or worse. John recently underwent a stem cell transplant at the University of Maryland Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, where he was referred by his local doctor for a recurrence of Hodgkin lymphoma. He and Angie were grateful to stay at Hope Lodge Baltimore for four weeks during treatment since they live two hours away in Waldorf, Maryland. As a self-employed truck driver who has been unable to work due to cancer, medical bills have eaten up most of the family’s savings, and John is on Medicaid. “We’ve been destroyed financially. Staying at Hope Lodge is a lifesaver,” said John. “Where else would I stay? If I had to, I would live in my truck during treatment.”

The couple also expressed gratitude for the community meals that volunteer groups hosted at Hope Lodge as well as the fresh food available at Hope Lodge thanks to a generous donation from . “It’s keeping us nutritious,” said John, who understands the importance of good nutrition to help him feel better and stay strong during his cancer journey.

“We really appreciate what Hope Lodge is doing for us,” he said. “When we are on our feet again, we want to come back to the lodge and give back.”

https://www.facebook.com/Safeway

Angie added, “As a caregiver, Hope Lodge has been easier for me. I feel safe here. We have a shuttle that takes us to treatment; there are the meals and friendly people. I think we’ve made lifetime friends among the other guests.”

08/23/2024

Thank you to Maryland Proton Treatment Center for being a sponsor of the American Cancer Society Evening of Hope, an evening dedicated to the Hope Lodge Baltimore Capital Campaign for the future, larger, reimagined 34-room Hope Lodge which will provide an additional 3,000 free nights of free lodging for cancer patients and their caregivers who travel to Baltimore for treatment.

Evening of Hope
Museum of Industry, 1415 Key Highway, Baltimore
Weds., November 13, 6-9 p.m.
Awards ceremony: 6:45 p.m.
Cocktail Reception
Strolling Dinner
Silent Auction

For tickets or sponsor information, email: [email protected] or go to:
EVENINGHOPEMD24.GIVESMART.COM

08/22/2024

Thank you University of Maryland Medical Center Department of Radiation Oncology for being a sponsor of the American Cancer Society Evening of Hope, an evening dedicated to the Hope Lodge Baltimore Capital Campaign for the future, larger, reimagined 34-room Hope Lodge which will provide an additional 3,000 nights of free lodging for cancer patients and their caregivers who travel to Baltimore for treatment.
EVENING OF HOPE at Baltimore Museum of Industry,
1415 Key Highway, Baltimore, Weds., November 13, 6-9 p.m.
Awards ceremony: 6:45 p.m.
Cocktail Reception, Strolling Dinner, Silent Auction
For tickets or sponsor information, email: [email protected] or go to: EVENINGHOPEMD24.GIVESMART.COM

08/20/2024

We are thrilled to share the outstanding news that Safeway has awarded a $20,000 grant to the Baltimore Hope Lodge to provide fresh produce, pantry staples, and meals to people with cancer and their caregivers. Studies show that 3 out of 4 people with cancer worry about how they will pay for cancer treatment while keeping up with their day-to-day costs. With Hope Lodge, we are alleviating lodging costs, and now Safeway is further helping our guests have easy access to nutritious food during their cancer treatment so they can focus on healing. To learn more about Hope Lodge, visit us at https://www.cancer.org/support-programs-and-services/patient-lodging/hope-lodge.html

We are very grateful for Safeway's impactful investment in our mission to ensure everyone has an opportunity to prevent, detect, treat, and survive cancer.

08/08/2024

Many thanks to the Hope Lodge Angels for their very generous donation of household goods and supplies from our Amazon.com wish list! Our cup runneth over! An incredible number of boxes full of greatly appreciated necessities arrived this week!

The Hope Lodge Angels are a group of people who share a love of line dancing and the desire to help those battling . When these angels became acquainted with several years ago, they decided to focus their fundraising toward our home away from home for cancer patients and their caregivers. They’ve also brought music and done line dancing with our guests. On behalf of Hope Lodge Baltimore, we are very grateful for their continued dedication to us! Keep on dancing!

If you or your group would like to donate to Hope Lodge through the Amazon wish list, go to: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/1CL48VP9FTAJ5/ref=hz_ls_biz_ex

08/05/2024

The Dieterles of Cumberland, Maryland are so grateful to be able to stay at Hope Lodge Baltimore while Curt Dieterles is being treated for multiple myeloma at the University of Maryland Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, where he was referred to a specialist in CAR-T therapy by his local oncologist. This is his second occurrence of multiple myeloma. He was first treated in Baltimore in 2018. The contrast between staying at Hope Lodge now to their previous lengthy hotel stay is huge.

“There’s no comparison with a hotel,” said Curt. “It’s not only the cost-savings, it’s how everything works together at Hope Lodge. You’re not confined to a guest room with four walls closing in. It’s clean, secure, and supportive here. You’re with people who are all going through the journey and who touch our lives.”

“People at have touched our hearts in ways we’ll never forget,” said his wife and caregiver Karen. “The staff who work here are all so special and obviously chosen for their kindness. They couldn’t be more friendly and helpful. It’s immaculate and sanitary, which is so important because there are a lot of patients here whose immune systems are compromised.”

“Hope Lodge feels as close to home as possible,” said Karen.

08/02/2024

Truly grateful for the delicious nutritious dinner hosted by the Truist team led by Brooks. truly appreciates how has embraced our mission from hosting dinners for our Hope Lodge guests to sponsoring Strides Against Breast Cancer of Washington DC!

07/29/2024

Hope Lodge guest Laura Burns and her husband Bernard Perroud drove all the way from Austin, Texas to Baltimore so that, following four months of chemotherapy at home, she could undergo an extended Whipple surgery for pancreatic cancer at the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center.

Not only did the couple stay at Hope Lodge Baltimore for over a month, but they also spent a night at Hope Lodge Memphis as they drove across the country. “We would not have been able to stay in Baltimore for my treatment if it wasn’t for Hope Lodge providing free lodging,” said Laura, a retired film and TV documentary editor. “The Hope Lode staff are very friendly and compassionate.” Among the many conveniences Laura noted was that she didn’t have to bring kitchen equipment, such as pots, pans, or dishes, from home in order to prepare their own meals.

Johns Hopkins was the best treatment choice for Laura since both she and her sister previously participated in a Johns Hopkins COVID vaccine trial for transplant patients. Laura is a lung transplant recipient; her sister has had a kidney transplant. The trial demonstrated that the COVID vaccine was not effective for transplant patients because they are immunocompromised.

Since Laura is immunocompromised, she had to avoid close contact with Hope Lodge guests. She could not sit down for meals with them nor participate in group activities. However, she said that the communal atmosphere “was positive for my husband who was able to have nice conversations with the other guests.”

When Laura received a beautiful, large orchid plant from her friends, the other Hope Lodge guests helped her care for it. “It needed to stay out of direct light, so guests moved it around during the daytime since I wasn’t able to,” she said appreciatively.

She also enjoyed taking walks around the Hope Lodge neighborhood, which she said were “calming” for her.

07/25/2024

The phenomenal NFL moms of PFPMA, Inc. had a day of service at Hope Lodge during their recent conference in Baltimore! Two moms have former Baltimore Ravens sons: McKinnie ( #78) and Williams( #21). Moms served lunch, tended the courtyard garden, brought cheer to our guests, and decorated coffee sleeves. They even were present when one of the guests Scotty Bennett rang the bell upon completion of his stay! DYK that was founded by a group of moms? Their mission is "to serve, support, educate, and strengthen our communities through charitable giving."

07/22/2024

Happy Birthday today to Bob Lipe. For this retired military veteran and recent Hope Lodge guest, July 4 is an important holiday. “I’m an old country boy. My family always celebrated with big picnics,” said Bob, a bladder and prostate cancer survivor from Northern Virginia, who needed treatment at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center.

Bob put on a July 4 picnic for his fellow Hope Lodge guests, complete with the trimmings. He not only ordered burgers and hot dogs from Omaha Steaks which the guests grilled in the courtyard, but since he goes home for weekends, he also brought back supplies for a picnic bounty. Bob, along with many other Hope Lodge guests, prepared dishes in the communal kitchen that included pickled deviled eggs, baked beans with his special recipe of garbanzo and kidney beans and green peppers, potato salad, pineapple raspberry Jello salad, and three different deserts! He used ingredients from his own garden as well as the Hope Lodge vegetable garden which is tended by Hope Lodge Senior Manager Theresa Gustitis’ husband!

“Everyone told me that the picnic was just like home. We had a good time,” said Bob, who lives three hours away from Baltimore and was referred to Johns Hopkins Bayview when Walter Reed National Military Medical Center closed. This is his second occurrence of prostate cancer.

Following the July 4 picnic, Bob and a group of Hope Lodge guests walked over to Baltimore’s Inner Harbor, just one mile away, to watch the fireworks and drone display.

“I’ve walked from Hope Lodge to the National Aquarium and Little Italy,” he added. In Little Italy, he visited Vacarro’s Italian pastry shop where he got cannoli kits so the other guests could assemble their own cannoli deserts.

“Hope Lodge is a blessing. It’s amazing what Hope Lodge offers,” said Bob. “They shuttle us over to the hospital. You make friends here and have fun. The guests here are all suffering from the same thing, so they have tales to tell, and we listen to each other. Though adversity, you can make positive things happen. I feel like we’re all here to do good. The guests all give back,” said Bob, who went to work for Amazon following his first occurrence of cancer so that he could get active again and stay healthy. “I walk 20 miles a day on the distribution line,” he said.

Bob is thrilled to see that donors can order supplies for Hope Lodge through Amazon’s website at:
https://smile.amazon.com/hz/charitylist/ls/2TFJ6AID5UP98/ref=smi_ge_rl_rd_gw?_encoding=UTF8&ref_=smi_se_cl_rd_ge

07/18/2024

Thank you El Congregation Baltimore for your faithful service to Hope Lodge Baltimore, hosting dinners and volunteering for the past 25 years! Guests enjoyed your recent BBQ and cookout - a perfect summer dinner! Our courtyard grill is getting great use this season!

07/15/2024

Imagine having to drive one and a half hours each way daily from Falling Water, West Virginia through hill country to Baltimore to access the best possible cancer treatment. Plus when traffic is bad, the drive can take up to three hours one way.

The McCaslands of Falling Water couldn’t imagine how they would do that when Joseph’s prostate cancer returned and his local physician referred him to the Brady Urological Institute at Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center in Baltimore. “I couldn’t drive to Baltimore every day,” said Joseph. Fortunately, they didn’t have to. Johns Hopkins told them that to look into free lodging at Hope Lodge Baltimore.

“I would not have been able to be treated at Johns Hopkins if it wasn’t for Hope Lodge,” said Joseph, who received radiation oncology for eight weeks. “Hope Lodge has been a wonderful blessing. Having my wife stay here with me to support my care has really helped my recovery. The staff are absolutely wonderful. They are always trying to keep our spirits up and ask, ‘How are you? Did you get a good night’s sleep?’” said Joseph.

“Bonding with other cancer patients here has also made a big difference. They’ve been able to provide guidance and reassurance,” he added.

The McCaslands were able to grocery shop locally and prepare their meals at Hope Lodge but also made the drive home for the weekends.

“I’ve told so many people about Hope Lodge, including my congregation,. Being at Hope Lodge has made a big difference,” said Joseph.

07/11/2024

Mouthwatering steak, salmon, shrimp, mashed potatoes, corn, fresh rolls, and salad – all made from scratch - were on the nourishing dinner menu last Wednesday for guests at Hope Lodge Baltimore, courtesy of Stephen Faircloth, owner of Roadhouse Dundalk. “This cause is dear to my heart,” explained Stephen, who lost his mother to melanoma and whose father is a prostate cancer survivor.

Stephen and Alexis Faircloth, legendary store marketer for Texas Roadhouse, also put their hearts into cooking and serving their neighboring community organizations such as schools, student sports leagues, and, recently, workers impacted by the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse. Hope Lodge is one of the lucky recipients of their Texas Roadhouse hospitality. This was the third dinner they’ve hosted at Hope Lodge this year.

“The American Cancer Society is an important cause to me. The best way for me to do something for someone is through food,” said Stephen, who is a chef. “We like treating the Hope Lodge guests to a nice dinner,” said Alexis, while she served cancer patients and their caregivers. After dinner, she carefully prepared individual plates for guests who came late following a day of cancer treatment. One late arrival was so grateful for the lean selections on her plate since her doctor had just put her on a low-fat diet that day and she didn’t have to prepare her own dinner. “Thank you so much,” she exclaimed.

“Stephen and Alexis have become a real favorite for the Hope Lodge guests. They not only provide an incredible dinner experience but bring their love of people with them. They are truly a gift to Hope Lodge,” said Mary-Lou Strohman, assistant manager of Hope Lodge Baltimore.

07/08/2024

Guests come from far and wide to stay at Hope Lodge Baltimore so they can access the best possible treatment for their cancer, but the Evans may be the only couple that needed to come part way by boat. Elmer and Mary Ruth Evans live on the storied Smith Island, the only island on the Chesapeake Bay not accessible by car, which has been the home of watermen and their families since the 1600s. Elmer grew up working on his dad’s Skipjack dredging for oysters but since then, has worked as a crab fisher.

The Evans’ son took them by boat to the mainland, where they keep a car, so they could drive three hours to the University of Maryland Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center (UMDGCCC) where Elmer is being treated for lymphoma. This is their second six-week stay at Hope Lodge Baltimore since Elmer’s lymphoma returned following his first treatment earlier this year. His second round of treatment features the latest CAR-T therapy for relapsed patients. The Evans are grateful for access to this advanced therapy in Baltimore.

“Hope Lodge is just like home. It’s wonderful. It’s amazing. It’s God’s blessing. There’s no way I could afford such a long stay at a hotel in Baltimore even though I have good health insurance,” said Elmer.

His wife added, “I doubt we would be able to do this treatment if it weren’t for Hope Lodge. It’s wonderful. Every morning, we sit in the courtyard to have our coffee.” For meals, they grocery shop and cook or order through Door Dash, unless there’s a volunteer group hosting dinner.

And here’s an interesting fact about the Evans family: Smith Island is known for producing its famous multi-layered (between 6-12 layers) Smith Island cakes that became the official dessert of Maryland thanks to Elmer’s sister Mary Ada Marshall who publicized the cake.

07/01/2024

When George Mansfield of the Dominican Republic received the news from his local doctor that his had returned, he and his wife had no doubt that they needed to return to the Johns Hopkins Brady Urological Institute in Baltimore where he had prostate cancer surgery 15 years before.

George’s new treatment required 35 days of radiation therapy, so his Johns Hopkins doctor told him about Hope Lodge Baltimore. “I only spent one night at a hotel in Baltimore,” said George. “When I came to see Hope Lodge the following day, it really humbled me. No one had told me about Hope Lodge before and that guests could stay for free, including those from other countries,” said George, who owns a fruit processing plant in the Dominican Republic.

“I’m impressed with how clean and organized Hope Lodge is. It’s like a first-class hotel,” said George. “We’re very happy here. We’ve made friends here. It’s wonderful to feel like you belong to this community. I’m really moved.”

“There are people who really inspire you here,” added his wife, Irene. “Everyone staying here agrees that is a blessing, and George is receiving treatment that is top of the line.”

06/28/2024

Trivia Night at Hope Lodge is not trivial at all! It’s convivial! Our guests enjoyed being entertained by the staff from Northrop Grumman Corporation who hosted the games. It was a great way to unwind and have fun after a day of treatment.

06/27/2024

Thank you the Maryland Proton Treatment Center and its wonderful staff for hosting a recent dinner for our guests. Many Hope Lodge guests travel to Baltimore for cancer treatment at the . We are grateful to be able to provide them with free lodging. The Proton Center's director Dr. William Bill Regine is the co-chair for the Capital Campaign to build a new, larger Hope Lodge Baltimore that will meet the need to accommodate more guests!

06/03/2024

Frederick, Maryland is a little more than one hour away from Baltimore – when the traffic is good. So, commuting to of Maryland Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center (UMDGCCC) daily for months to be treated for a rare cancer would be grueling. Fortunately, Magee, age 75, and his wife Linda are staying at Hope Lodge Baltimore while he is being treated for rhabdomyosarcoma, a pediatric cancer. It is so uncommon in adults that UMDGCCC had to create a new protocol for him.

“Hope Lodge has been an angelic experience for us. We hadn’t heard about Hope Lodge before,” said Harvey. “One of our friends from church gifted us free Days Inn points but then one of the University of Maryland nurses told us about that is free of charge. It’s amazing being here, and we’re able to go home for the weekends. I don’t know how we would have been able to go back and forth daily. I don’t know what we’d do from an energy perspective. Driving that much would be both tiring and dangerous,” said Harvey, a U.S. Air Force veteran who was a competitive racquetball player and ran daily in Gambrills State Park before his surprising diagnosis. His was diagnosed as a result of him seeking medical care for erratic chest pain and a mass that developed on the side of his neck.

“The staff here are amazing. They are so kind and caring. The evening activities have been fun, like Bingo and the group dinners, but much of the time we go back to our room to relax and read after a long day of treatment,” said Linda. The Magees have been married for 53 years and have four adult children, 13 grandchildren, and two great grandchildren.

05/28/2024

Delores David is enjoying the spring flowers in the Hope Lodge courtyard garden. Delores, who retired to San Miguel in Central Mexico, needed to return to the U.S. to be treated for metastatic breast cancer at the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center in Baltimore since there was no appropriate care near where she lives. “I found Hope Lodge through word of mouth. It’s a Godsend,” said Delores, who is staying for six weeks while undergoing treatment. “My doctors have kept me alive, but I couldn’t afford the treatment if I didn’t have a place to stay free of charge. The people are wonderful. It’s amazing. I have a private room and bath, a communal kitchen stocked with every appliance you could need, a library, and transportation to treatment. It’s very convenient. It’s also really nice having the support and company of other people going through a similar experience. I have the opportunity to speak with them, and we can tell each other our stories.”

05/23/2024

The monthly MileOne Autogroup dinner was hosted by Heritage Subaru Owings Mills this past Tuesday. Our Hope Lodge guests thoroughly enjoyed the wonderful Italian dinner of chicken piccata, baked ziti, and salad, as well as the gracious company of the staff! MileOne has also gifted the two transportation vans that Hope Lodge uses to take guests back and forth from the Lodge to treatment in Baltimore. If you or your community group or organization would like to host a guest dinner at Hope Lodge, contact [email protected]. Dinners like this help nourish body and spirit while relieving our guests of the work of dinner prep after a tiring day of cancer treatment.

05/16/2024

Northrop Grumman Corporation rocks, literally! A group of their employees held an activity night with our guests painting rocks and creating origami! Fun times like this mean so much to our guests, helping them unwind after a long day of treatment. Thank you to Northrop Grumman which plans to come to the Lodge monthly for activities with our guests! To learn more about volunteering at Hope Lodge, contact [email protected].

05/13/2024

The University of Maryland Physician Assistant program brought their green thumbs and did fabulous gardening in the Hope Lodge courtyard. They weeded and rearranged plantings so that our garden will look its best this season. Our guests enjoy relaxing in the courtyard and appreciate the physician assistants' efforts! If you or your group wants to volunteer at Hope Lodge there are many opportunities, contact [email protected].

05/10/2024

Thank you Autogroup - a fabulous partner to Hope Lodge Baltimore _ for their longstanding commitment and amazing recent contribution of more than $123,000 to help cancer patients get free rides to cancer treatment with the American Cancer Society (ACS) free Road to Recovery program. Lack of accessible transportation is one of the greatest barriers to completing cancer care.

Through the Subaru Share the Love Promise, the MileOne Autogroup Subaru family raised $123,288 to provide free transportation to treatment. Individually, Subaru Catonsville raised $43,608; Subaru Owings Mills raised $36,625, and Gordon Subaru raised $43,055.

Nationwide in 2024, ACS Road to Recovery funded more than 47,000 free rides to treatment. ACS couldn’t do this without the generous support of donors such as . To learn more about Road to Recovery or inquire about a ride to treatment, see www.cancer.org/roadtorecovery. To volunteer to give a cancer patient a ride to treatment in your area, see www.cancer.org/drive.

MileOne has generously supported Hope Lodge Baltimore by providing our two guest transportation vans, hosting monthly guest dinners, supporting the Adopt a Room program, supporing the future Hope Lodge Capital Campaign, and more!

Photo of MileOne Subaru Group, Amount: $123,288.28 (l to r) Steve Knolle – General Manager at Heritage Subaru Catonsville, Mike Yoon – GM Heritage Subaru Owings Mills, Amanda Kodeck – Chief Giving Officer at MileOne Autogroup, Steve Gluck – Div. Sales Dir. MileOne Autogroup, Laura Doherty – Regional Marketing Mgr. MileOne Autogroup, Eddie Sarecky – GM Herb Gordon Subaru, Scott Fader – COO MileOne Autogroup, Beth Garbolino – Assoc, Dir. American Cancer Society, Tanishia Lewis – Sr. Development Mgr. American Cancer Society, Katrina Pemberton – Sr. Director, Marketing Operations MileOne Autogroup, Vivienne Stearns-Elliott – Communications Dir. American Cancer Society

05/02/2024

Read this beautiful caregiver article in CaringBridge, a free online tool which partners with, that allows people dealing with illnesses like to stay in touch with their friends, family members, and support network by creating their own personal page where they share their journey and health updates. This couple stayed at Hope Lodge Baltimore twice while he was treated at Maryland Proton Treatment Center and University of Maryland Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center.

In sickness and in health takes on profound meaning for couples like Sally and Sam, who are navigating the world of cancer diagnosis and treatment for a second time in less than 10 years.

04/23/2024

100 Black Men of Maryland visited the lodge and cooked a delicious "breakfast for dinner" feast!! Thank you to the group for continuing to support the Baltimore Hope Lodge and our guests throughout the years!

04/12/2024

Our marvelous monthly MileOne Autogroup dinner for Hope Lodge guests was hosted in March by Heritage Subaru Catonsville. Heritage Subaru Catonsville General Manager Steve Knolle and his staff served a yummy Italitan dinner and sat with guests, sharing fellowship and friendly conversations with them. Although our guests have access to our communal kitchen where they can keep groceries and cook for themselves dinners such as this one are a welcome break, nourishing both body and spirit and helping defray meal costs. On behalf of the American Cancer Society staff and Hope Lodge guests, we extend our gratitude to Heritage Subaru of Catonsville staff who .

04/11/2024

Sky-gazing Hope Lodge guests got a great view of the exciting Great Northern American Solar eclipse from our courtyard on April 8. This rare celestial event won't occur again until 2044. It was out of this world to share this unique experience with our guests!

04/09/2024

We welcomed Ramon Bermo, our incredible DetermiNation director and Crossing the Nation for Cancer Survivors endurance athlete, to Hope Lodge last night for a celebratory dinner hosted by ACS staff and Advisory Board members. Follow the adventure and support the mission to fund our Hope Lodge communities that offer 500,000 free nights of lodging across the country to patients who travel for cancer treatment. Learn more about Ramon and his quest: https://runsignup.com/Race/crossingthenation/Page/ramonbio