The Tennessee Federation of Republican Women will host the annual Spaghetti Supper to benefit the Tennessee Fisher House on Friday, Nov. 17, at 6 p.m. It will be held at the Harrison Ruritan Club, 5637 Highway 58.
The cost is $8.50 for adults and $4 for children. Kids under 5 eat free.
The Tennessee Fisher House, on Alvin C. York VA Medical Center Campus, 3400 Lebanon Pike, Murfreesboro, Tn., opened Nov. 7, 2013. The house's objective is to provide the best care possible to the families of military personnel receiving medical care.
Fisher house believes that families should be together during those times of extreme stress such as disease, injury, and illness. The Tennessee Fisher House can accommodate 12 families at a time and provide private bedrooms, bathrooms, and a communal eating and living area. Their core message is that a family's love is good medicine, and they uphold that statement to its fullest.
Since the early 90's, Fisher House has helped over 305 thousand families, saved $360 million, and provided seven million nights of care and service. Tom Allard, president of the Tennessee Fisher House, said, "We don't like spending money on ads because money should go to the veterans." The House operates off volunteers only. The money raised through donations goes directly to catering to the needs of the families. Once those needs are met to the fullest by the house, any extra money goes back to the Fisher House Foundation.
With that money, Fisher House funds programs such as Hero's Miles. Hero's Miles allows the families of an injured service member to travel to their location. The Fisher House has locations in Germany and England, so if a soldier is injured abroad, the family can go to them with the donated miles through Hero's miles.
Mr. Allard says the House "is about giving and not taking." Their goal is to provide all the necessities for those families. If a family arrives with little clothing, Fisher House will provide gift cards for the family to shop with. The families do not have to pay to stay within the home. The Tennessee Fisher House even raised the money to supply a desk, computer, and printer so families could have access to necessary documents and travel necessities should the need arise.