Get INNvolved The Inn is a special place not only because of the wonderful families who call it "home," but also because of the incredible support it receives from people just like you. There are many projects available that bring joy and help to relieve the stress our families face each day. Organizations of all kinds - including church, synagogue and school groups, scouting troops and other clubs - are invited to participate in these opportunities. Below is a listing of special projects you can organize on behalf of The Inn that will bring comfort and smiles to Inn families. Thoughtful Treasures This mailbox program brings many moments of joy and happiness to children and their siblings. Upon arrival at The Inn, each child is given their own mailbox to receive not only mail, but also special gifts. During the child's stay, a special treasure is placed in the child's mailbox each day. These items can be many different things--each one lifting spirits, bringing smiles, laughter or a friendly surprise. This is a great project for brownie troops, schools, church organizations, etc. To find out more information on this program, please click here. Food Drives Often our families arrive later in the evening, and do not have food for meals. Or many families are experiencing financial hardships making it difficult to purchase groceries. To assist with these challenges, we equip each kitchen with a "Help Yourself" pantry. These pantries are stocked 365 days a year for families with the food that is collected by community groups of all sizes. This is a great project for children who want to learn about community involvement and volunteerism. For a listing of the types of food collected and more information, please click here. For more information on both of these projects, please contact Laura King, Director of Volunteers and Community Outreach at 301-451-9454 or lking@mail.nih.gov. Sunday/Weekday Suppers Families who travel to The Inn arrive exhausted from the day's travel. Our Sunday/Weekday Suppers provide a wonderful opportunity for families to eat together and ease the stress of adjusting to a new environment. Sundays and Wednesdays are our busiest nights at The Inn--a perfect time to involve community groups to either prepare food and drop it off for the families, or prepare, serve and share meals with The Inn families. For more information on Sunday/Weekday Suppers, please click here. Decorate The Inn Families love when The Inn is decorated to represent the various holidays, such as St. Patrick's Day or Halloween. Community groups have an opportunity to sponsor a holiday by purchasing decorations and volunteering their time to decorate The Inn. This excludes Christmas. Fundraising Ideas If you have a fundraising idea, such as a special event, please contact Fern Stone, Director of Development and Public Relations, at 301-451-9453 or stonefj@mail.nih.gov.
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