Celebrates its First Guest
By Joan Malley, Harbor House Manager

I want to thank everyone who has stopped by to offer support and to meet the “new neighbors.” I thought I lived in a great neighborhood, but yours is one to envy! Because you have all been so welcoming, I wanted to share our good news with you. Harbor House of Rochester had its first guest on Monday, September 28, 2009! It was an exhilarating feeling to see the hard work of so many people finally come to fruition.	Harbor House mission is to serve as an invaluable support for families by providing temporary lodging needs during health emergencies and for periods of long-term care.
As manager of the Harbor House, I can only say I wish that everyone who helped to make this dream a reality couldh have been here to see our first guests as they wearily entered the house after a long, distressing day at the hospital. Watching their expressions change from anxious to relieved was worth all the effort. After the couple was settled in their room, the grateful wife of the patient hugged me and thanked me. I knew then this house was truly going to be a safe harbor for families in crisis.
Harbor House is located at 89 Rossiter Road.	Don’t you wish you could be part of something this special? You can!!! We are looking for kind, caring individuals to donate their time to help staff the house. The shifts run in 3-4 hour increments. We urgently need evening and weekend help. The amount of commitment you make is up to you. It could be once or twice a week, or one to two times a month; whatever fits your schedule.
You can even talk a friend into volunteering with you and become a team. If you can’t do this, but still want to help, check out our website for needed donations or to sign up for one time volunteering opportunities. The Harbor House phone number is (585)-473-1779. Our website is: www.harborhouseofrochester.org
Volunteers Needed!
Harbor House of Rochester is a not-for-profit organization that provides housing for transplant patients and their caregivers who travel to Rochester and need a place to stay. Our goal is to create a “home away from home” for people who are faced with a serious medical condition. We want to give them a comfortable, friendly place to rest, a safe harbor.
House Sitter Positions Available
Harbor House will serve as a “home-away-from-home.”	Duties include: Answering phone and taking messages for guests Light housekeeping as needed – e.g. laundry, sweeping, emptying dishwasher Occasionally stuffing envelopes or other light office duties Being a welcoming presence in the house to answer questions or be company for the guests.
Shifts Available: Weekdays: 4PM-7PM, 7PM-10PM (daytime hours available soon, call if you’re interested) Weekends 8AM-12PM, 12PM-4PM, 4PM-7PM, 7PM-10PM
Volunteering with a friend as a team is always an option, but individuals are great too! Can you commit to once a week, twice a month, once a month? It’s up to you! Our house is located at 89 Rossiter Rd. - just two short blocks from Strong Memorial Hospital. This is a great opportunity for friendly, caring people to make a huge difference in the lives of families in crisis. Sound interesting??? Call today for more details or check out our website for donation opportunities!!! Contact Joan Malley at: (585) 473-1779 or e-mail: harborhouseofrochester@gmail.com Harbor House of Rochester www.harborhouseofrochester.org