The Children's Inn at NIH is an amazing place. They provide lodging for children, and their families, who are being treated at NIH. It is a warm and attractive facility. As they say on their website "While the NIH takes care of the child's medical needs, The Inn tends to the child's heart, soul and spirit."
When you enter the building it looks like you have entered an upscale ski lodge. There is a reception desk to the left, but straight ahead is a sitting area with plush couches and a fireplace. As part of a service organization that provides Sunday dinners 3 times a year, I have only been in the public areas. They have recently added new kitchens, done other renovations, and built a new outdoor play area. Each family has their own private room. There are various public rooms such as a computer area, a quiet room, and dining areas, etc. Our group prepares a meal in a double kitchen equipped with 4 stoves, microwaves, sinks, small appliances, and kitchen equipment. There is a pantry with paper products and non-perishable items. Each family has a personal refrigerator for their own use and there is a common refrigerator for anyone to take advantage of. Volunteer groups can leave leftovers in the common refrigerators for residents to use. Behind the kitchen area we work in is a laundry room with a number of washers and dryers.
Staff and volunteers provide a large number of diversions and activities for the families. One night there was a high school choral group; another time someone was organizing board games; and another night an outgoing man was setting up a bocce ball set for after dinner entertainment. Each child apparently has a mail box where small "treats" are provided.
There are many ways to contribute to this amazing organization with donations of time, of money, or in kind. When I am at the Inn I feel sad for the children and their families, but I am thankful for them that they have the Inn and that they are getting treatment at such a remarkable, caring facility as the National Institutes of Health. read more