The Fisher House Foundation broke ground this week on the 87th Fisher House, located at Canal Street in New Orleans, La., in partnership with building materials manufacturer 84 Lumber.
The future house, expected to be completed by 2020, will be the first Fisher House in Louisiana. The 13,000 square foot structure will be able to house up to 16 families or caregivers of military veterans, free of charge, while their loved ones are receiving treatment at the VA’s Southeast Louisiana Veterans Health Care System.
Each of the family suites will be equipped with a private handicapped-accessible bathroom, and the house’s common areas will include a kitchen, laundry room, patio, and living, dining and family rooms.
The New Orleans Fischer House is the latest endeavor in 84 Lumber’s national partnership with the Fischer House Foundation, formed to show its continued support for veterans and their families. The company provided $25,000 to Friends of the Pittsburgh Fischer House in May, and has announced a $500,000 donation to support the construction of new houses. Last month, 84 Lumber helped kick off the construction of West Virginia’s first Fisher House, located in Huntington.
“It’s such an honor to support the mission of the Fisher House Foundation, as we help lessen the burden faced by so many families of veterans who want to be close to their loved ones during a terribly stressful time,” says Amy Smiley, VP of marketing at 84 Lumber. “The more houses we can help build, the more help we can bring to veterans and their families.”
The Fischer House Foundation operates Fisher Homes near major military and VA medical centers in the U.S., as well as medical centers and hospitals in Europe, where patients’ families and caregivers can stay free of charge. The Foundation also operates grant programs for military charities and scholarships, as well as the Hero Miles Program, which brings family members to the bedside of injured service members, and the Hotels for Heroes program, which houses family members near medical centers.
