By Larry Dandridge
On January 19, 2024, the Coastal Carolina Chapter of the Association of the U.S. Army (AUSA) Chapter presented its Outstanding Service Award to the Fisher House Charleston Team. The award was presented at the Fisher House Charleston (FHC) public viewing, which was sponsored by the Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center and Healthcare System and the Friends of Fisher House Charleston, Inc.
A contributing writer to The Island News on veterans’ benefits, I am also the AUSA Chapter’s Vice President (since 2004) for Veterans Affairs. I presented the award plaque and letters of commendation to FHC Manager Erik Zielinski, Assistant Manager Charity Anderson, and Housekeeping Supervisor Percy Jones.
Beautiful, five-star, and free lodging
The Ralph H Johnson Healthcare System’s Fisher House is the Lowcountry’s “home away from home” and “free lodging” for families of veterans and military members receiving care at the Ralph H. Johnson Medical Center. This beautiful facility supports Beaufort County and the other S.C. coastal counties north to the North Carolina border and south to Brunswick, Ga. FHC is, on a space-available basis, also available to veterans accompanied by family members while the veteran receives treatment at nearby hospitals through VA community care.
The five-star lodging accommodations include 16 lovely private suites, a common kitchen, a family room, a dining room, a library, a large rear veranda with outdoor cooking facilities, a large front porch, laundry facilities, well-lighted parking, VA Police Protection, and free transportation to and from the VA Medical Center. FHC also provides groceries and amenity items so that families can focus on their hero while they receive treatment.
Adopt and support Fisher House Charleston
Volunteers, local businesses, patriotic organizations, and others provide an almost endless supply of monetary donations and donations of things the Fisher House Charleston needs to make it the Lowcountry’s world-class and free lodge for families of the veterans and military members who are inpatients in the RHJVA Medical Center. Among the many organizations and businesses which have adopted and supported the Fisher House Charleston are:
The Fisher Foundation, The Friends of Fisher House Charleston, Beaufort’s AUSA Subchapter, AUSA’s Coastal S.C. Chapter, the Charleston Garden Club, MOAA Charleston and other MOAA chapters, Mil Corp, Coastal Vascular & Vein Center, Palmetto Christian Academy, Berkeley Electric Co-op, Sugar Bake Shop, Sentar, J. Henry Stur Funeral Home, K&L Gates law Firm, The Charleston Police Department, Knights of Columbus No. 6629, Isle of Palms Exchange Club, the Ladies of Edisto, Grace Temple Fellowship Church, American Legion Post 69, REV Federal Credit Union, the S.C. Aquarium, Roper Hospital 7 East Nursing Unit, MOPH Grand Strand, GSRI, Project Outreach, Genentech, Purpose & Destiny Family School, MUSC Student Government Association, Summerville Elks Lodge 2719, Grace Cathedral Church, Seacoast Church Small Group, VFW Auxiliary Eutawville, Innovative Endodontics, the Boeing Corporation, East Cooper Outboard, Publix, Red & White Boom Fireworks, CDS School, Eart Breeze, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Ronald McDonald House, Sea Brook Island Club, Sun City Vet’s Association, NSDAR Ft. Sullivan Vets, Isle of Palms Express Club, Girl Scout Troop 756, Navy Wives Club, Swamp Fox Unit 17 DAV Auxiliary, Women in Defense, Boy Scouts, SE Asia ASA Vets Association, Peter Horry DAR Chapter, JBCHS First Sergeants Council, St. Mary and St. Agnes Church Chapter, several American Legion Chapters, the Elms Vets Association, Bethel Methodist Church, Treats 4 Troops, Rufin Foundation, Winkler Fund, Network for Good, KPMG Bergen City United Way, and more that 100 others (too many to mention here).
The award plaque and commendations mentioned that the Fisher House Charleston Team has provided outstanding service to the veterans and veterans’ families staying at the Ralph H. Johnson VA Fisher House for the fourth quarter of 2023 and since opening in January 2018.
In 2023 the Lowcountry’s Fisher House maintained the third-highest occupancy in the VA system out of 45 other VA medical centers. The FHC was also included in the top two VAs for total Veterans families accommodated and served – 1,246 Veterans families.
The dramatic increase in occupancy and referrals in 2023 was driven by several process improvements and increased community outreach, which was a testament to the dedication of the new manager, Erik Zielinski, and his amazing team of employees, housekeepers, and volunteers.
The FHC has also implemented a dashboard admissions report that was recently recognized as a National best practice. The report will be accessible to all VA sites and will save an estimated $5 million of annual out-of-pocket lodging expenses for veterans and families nationwide.
The AUSA Award not only recognized the Fisher House Charleston’s three leaders but also the other employees and hundreds of volunteers who have made Charleston’s Fisher House the great lodge that it is.
Friends of Fisher House Charleston
When the Fisher House is full, the wonderful local 501c3 non-profit Friends of Fisher House Charleston Inc. provides free hotel nights and convenient transportation services making sure no veteran’s family goes unaccommodated. The Fisher House Charleston has been full for the past four months and the demand for free lodging has resulted in the need for a second Fisher House in Charleston.
How to donate
Items like individually packaged food items/snacks and common household items such as toilet paper and cleaning supplies) are appreciated. Monetary donations can be made online at https://bit.ly/3UwnEXQ or at https://bit.ly/48c3BRE. Checks can be made payable to Charleston Fisher House or Friends of Fisher House Charleston.
This author suggests you donate through the Friends of Fisher House Charleston, Inc., because the money can be used faster through this avenue and in some cases for families that government-appropriated funding does not cover.
How to volunteer
Meal Train: The FHC is always looking for volunteers to cook at the Fisher House. Register online at https://bit.ly/42rUmM3. If you have any questions, contact the Fisher House Managers at Erik.Zielinski@va.gov or Charity.Anderson@va.gov or call 843-805-8200.
The bottom line
Eligible veterans and their families from all over our nation can use Fisher Houses. Veterans and their families should work with the VA social worker to get referred to stay in a Fisher House. Please encourage your friends, clubs, businesses, houses of worship, and organizations to volunteer and donate money and needed items to Fisher House Charleston.
Larry Dandridge is a Vietnam War wounded warrior, disabled veteran, ex-Enlisted Infantryman, ex-Warrant Officer Pilot, and retired Lt. Colonel. He is a past Veterans Service Officer, a Patient Adviser at the RHJ VA Hospital, the Fisher House Charleston Good Will Ambassador, and the VP for Veteran Affairs for the local Army Association Chapter. Larry is the author of the award-winning book Blades of Thunder and a contributing free-lance writer with the Island News. Contact him at LDandridge@earthlink.net or 843-276-7164.
