Episode 1 - Home & Hope

Hope Lodge is a non-profit organization that provides housing and support for cancer patients and their families. It was founded in 1970 by Margo Freudenberg, who was inspired by similar facilities she saw while traveling. Hope Lodge has over 30 locations across the country and also funds cancer research. Volunteering at Hope Lodge involves various tasks like paperwork and meal prep. The selection of Hope Lodge was influenced by the high cancer rates in the Appalachian region and the limited treatment options there. The volunteers aim to bring comfort and hope to those fighting cancer. Hello everyone, welcome to our first episode of our podcast titled Finding Home at Hope Lodge. I'm your host, Lindsay Lewis, and I'm currently majoring in kinesiology exercise science. In today's episode, we'll be taking a look at the service learning site, Hope Lodge. Hi, I'm Kaylee Bisher, and I'm majoring in human health sciences for pre-pharmacy. Hi, my name is Faith Stahl. I'm majoring in human health sciences on the pre-PA track. Hello, I am Bailey Davidson, and I'm majoring in kinesiology exercise science. Now that we've had the chance to introduce ourselves, let's dive into the history of Hope Lodge. Kaylee, can you share with our listeners how this remarkable institution came to be? So, Hope Lodge was founded in 1970 in South Carolina. The idea originated with Margo Freudenberg, who was a leader for medical and business communities. She saw a similar facility while traveling through Australia and New Zealand with President Eisenhower's program. Then, Freudenberg's family was affected by cancer, motivating her to establish the first Hope Lodge. Since then, over 30 facilities serve patients across the country. She then proceeded to volunteer until she was 105, making her the longest-serving volunteer. And by doing this, she set a precedent for the Hope Lodge community to constantly give the best care to all their patients. Circling back from the history of Hope Lodge, let's take a glimpse into what it's like for volunteering. Our orientation for this service-learning organization was a phone call with the representative, Brandi Morris. I got a great first impression of the establishment when discussing what the organization is and who it serves. Hope Lodge is a non-profit and is a home away from home for cancer patients and their families who need to be close to hospitals for treatment. In addition to giving extraordinary care to their patients, as mentioned before by Kaylee, Hope Lodge also helps their patients by funding cancer research. When volunteering at Hope Lodge, our responsibilities could range from helping with paperwork, doing laundry, giving tours, assisting with meal prep, and other tasks where needed. Now that we are familiar with the layout and history of Hope Lodge, let's jump into the reasoning for the selection of Hope Lodge and what excites our members about getting to volunteer here. I chose to volunteer at Hope Lodge because it holds a special place in my heart. Living in a small town in the Appalachian region, I've seen how cancer has impacted the lives of so many people that I know and care about. Unfortunately, cancer rates there are very high and treatment plans are very limited. If you want a better treatment option, you do have to seek better care in larger cities. I know a couple people that are actually living at Hope Lodge right now that are currently fighting cancer from my small town. I wanted to contribute in some way to make their journey a little less challenging. Hope Lodge provides them with a place of comfort and support during these difficult times. I'm excited to be a part of an organization that brings hope and comfort during one of the most challenging times in people's lives and offer a glimmer of hope to those who need it most. Overall, I just want to make a meaningful impact in the fight against cancer. As we wrap up the first episode of our podcast, Finding Home at Hope Lodge, let's review what we have discussed so far. We've uncovered the backstory of how this organization came to be, what it will be like volunteering at this establishment, and why this site was picked. I hope you guys enjoyed listening and we will see you next time in our next episode.