Longtime CMH Auxiliary volunteer Leonard Zanatta began serving at the Tremain House when it opened. For him, the house is a place where patients can feel at ease. “We are able to give people comfort and lodging at minimal cost,” Zanatta says. “They have enough to worry about with their health, and we provide a service by giving them a nice place to stay.” Beverly and Henry Bonner also began volunteering at Tremain House shortly after it opened. Together, they’ve helped provide a welcoming environment for countless patients and families. “They seem to relax when they get here,” she said. “We have dinner provided. They can focus on their treatment and don’t have to worry about other things.” Volunteers keep Tremain House running 24/7, signing up for six-hour daytime or 12-hour overnight shifts. They handle household tasks such as making beds, doing laundry, stocking snacks and helping with meals. But, most importantly, they are there to greet patients, listen and help them feel at home. Many of the guests are cancer patients, but anyone receiving treatment at CMH can stay there, if needed. Out-of-town family members of hospital patients can also stay at the house. Each night’s stay costs $15 for a patient and one caregiver and includes an evening meal. “The Tremain House was an amazing blessing for us,” Roby says. “We were there for six weeks, Monday through Friday. I was getting radiation five days a week, and I don’t drive. It was such a blessing for me to be able to get treatments and then go back there and get some rest, because I was exhausted.” ‘Everything worked so well’ Roby and her husband, David, live about 25 miles north of Bolivar in Pittsburg, and David works in Springfield. “He was able to go work and not worry about me,” Roby says. “He knew I was right here where I could get medical treatment if something happened.” The Citizens Memorial Health Care Foundation owns and operates the Tremain Family Hospitality House, which is at 1705 N. Oakland Ave., next door to the Carrie J. Babb Cancer Center. CMH Auxiliary volunteers staff the house. “They have the absolute best volunteers,” Roby says. “When David retires, we would like to pay it forward by volunteering there. The Tremain House was a huge part of my experience being as good as it was. It was like everything was puzzle pieces—the people who work at the Cancer Center, the people who volunteer at the Tremain House. Absolutely everything worked so well.” Volunteers create a home away from home INSPIRE —Continued from previous page Facing cancer withconfidence and support Need a place to stay during treatment? You can learn more about the Tremain Family Hospitality House at cmhbolivar.info/ TremainHouse or by calling 417-328-7400. CMH Auxiliary members Leonard Zanatta (back) and Henry and Beverly Bonner have volunteered at the Tremain Family Hospitality House for more than a decade. Help make a difference. If you are interested in donating to or volunteering at the Tremain Family Hospitality House, please call Shantelle Posten, director of volunteer services, at 417-328-6432. CMH FOUNDATION IMPACT REPORT
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