We are lucky enough to have some of the best volunteers! We wanted to acknowledge their hard work and dedication with this spotlight. Thank you volunteers! You make this Fisher House the best “home away from home” it can be!
Event Coordinator – Leah Miller: I became a volunteer at Fisher House to pay it forward. Fisher House provided a home away from home to me while my daughter was critically ill, until my husband and four other children were able to join us on compassionate reassignment orders from Louisiana to Texas. The Fisher House was a blessing beyond words, enabling me to keep my primary focus on the care of my fragile child.
Amy Harcourt – Volunteer Coordinator: Amy has been one of our most consistent volunteers. From running our volunteer program to being a Fisher House representative in the community we can count on her to support and advocate for the Fisher House. The entire Harcourt family has been volunteering at the Fisher House! Her husband, Jeremiah, created our beautiful garden in the back yard as well as speaking about the Fisher House at many community events. He was JBLM Soldier Volunteer of the Year for his hard work. The boys are also involved by helping with many events and spending a lot of time helping with the garden. The hard work of the entire family has improved our house and left it better because of their service.
Marketing/Public Relations Coordinator – Melanie Casey: Melanie is an award-winning Army journalist who volunteers as the Fisher House newsletter editor and public relations specialist. She attends Fisher House events and writes and submits stories and photographs to The Guardian newspaper as well as Fisher House parent organization publications. Melanie chose to volunteer with Fisher House shortly after PCSing to Fort Lewis in the summer of 2009. Unable to find permanent employment and wanting to put her skills to work, Melanie opted to volunteer at the Fisher House because she believes it is a worthy organization that people both in and out of the military need to learn more about.
General Volunteer: Herb Schmeling: Command Sergeant Major Retired Herb Schmeling is a thirty year veteran of the United States Army. While Herb volunteers for a myriad of organizations which supports service members and their families, the Fisher House program is both near and dear in his heart. During his final tour of duty at Fort Lewis, two of his soldiers were separately severely injured in training accidents and the families of those soldiers both experienced extended stays at the Fisher House while their son’s recovered. To Herb, the Fisher House program directly contributed to the recovery of both soldiers by allowing their families to be a part of the rehabilitation process. Since retirement in 2001, Herb has been an active volunteer for the Fisher House, soliciting support throughout Puget Sound during the Combined Federal Campaign, manning monthly tabletop displays at the JBLM Newcomer’s Briefing, and planning and organizing winter and summer “Christmas Parties” for the children of Fisher House residents.
Gardener – Rae Showman: Outlaw Showman is a 1-year-old rottweiler / labrador retriever mix. He chose to volunteer at the Fisher House this summer (as squirrel chaser, shade hoarder and cannon barker) because he feels everyone that stays on JBLM must be properly sniff-searched and licked-attacked. Outlaw can be found frequently by the back gazebo with his sidekick, Rachel Showman, the volunteer gardener. While Rachel does her best to maintain the Fisher House garden, Outlaw frequently has to eat the grass, bark and twigs himself to polish-off the landscaping. Rachel and Outlaw are two-thirds of an infantry family currently stationed at JBLM.
General Volunteers - Barb Baguhn & Chuck Mietzner: We have been volunteers for 2 years. We chose Fisher House because we are both from military families. Chuck is a veteran and we have many family members that have served or are serving currently. This is a wonderful association and we are proud to be part of it.
Massage Therapist – Marla Deere: I have family members who are retired and active military. it’s all about paying back the people who do what so many “Americans” can’t or won’t do..put themselves in harms’ way to protect us and the American way of life. I know how massage can help, emotionally as well as physically. whether I do 2 massages or 6, makes no difference to me. I’m THERE if the people of Fisher House need/want me — residents as well as staff.
