Thank you JW House for everything you have to offer to families of loved ones staying at the nearby hospital. It can always be stressful and heartbreaking as a family member with a loved one staying at the hospital; esp if you are not from the area and driving back and forth isn't as easy as it seems. JW House offers rooms to stay, hot meals, a place to shower and overall, just a place for families to feel AT HOME and comfortable. A home away from home. I truly appreciate the time I got to spend here. I didn't stay a night but I did stay for a couple hours with my 6 month old to feed and to nap. It was for sure needed before the drive back home. I also stayed for dinner which was delightful. They also offer snacks, and if you have family members at bedside, you are more than welcome to pack them food to-go. They also have a huge backyard with a play area and a BBQ grill. I highly suggest going on their website to learn more about this amazing home away from home. It was built from love and you can see it radiate from the way this place is taken care of and from the volunteers. Thank you, JW House! read more

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I want to be clear that I completely understand JW House has limited availability, uses a referral/waitlist process, and cannot guarantee a room. My disappointment is not that I wasn't guaranteed housing -- it's how little communication I received during the process. I started the process about a month before my scheduled surgery, worked with a social worker, completed everything that was asked of me, and followed up because I knew I needed to have lodging arranged ahead of time. Despite doing that, I did not receive any meaningful update about where I stood or what I should realistically expect. Then, only a couple of days before my surgery, I received a call asking additional questions and whether I was still interested. I said yes, but I was still told they could only let me know if a room became available. At that point, my surgery was days away. I was traveling for a medical procedure and simply could not responsibly wait until the last minute without knowing whether I would have somewhere to stay. Again, I understand that availability is limited and that JW House may not always be able to accommodate everyone. I would never fault an organization for not having a room. What was difficult was going through the process so far in advance, trying to follow up, and still being left without any clear communication until the final days before surgery. For someone already dealing with the physical and emotional stress of a serious medical procedure, that uncertainty added a tremendous amount of stress. If I had simply been told earlier, "We cannot guarantee anything and you should secure backup lodging now," I would have understood completely. Instead, I felt like I was left waiting until it was no longer realistic to do so. I ultimately had to make other arrangements. I genuinely think the mission of JW House is wonderful, and I hope the communication process can improve for future patients and families, because people seeking this kind of help are often already under an enormous amount of stress. read more

Built on the simple idea that nothing else should matter when a family is focused on the health of a loved one; not where they will stay, where they get their next meal or where they lay their head at night to rest. JW House can be a home away from home for families in the midst of medical crisis. Founded by Jan Willem ("JW") Knappen, the loving big brother and eldest son of a close-knit Belgian family. Around Thanksgiving week 2002 he began to have seizures. He was diagnosed with three different brain tumours. 16-year-old JW showed courage and grace in his grueling fight against cancer and during surgery, radiation and chemotherapy treatments. In April 2004 when a virulent inoperable new tumour was discovered, he decided to focus on how he might help others with medical struggles of their own. J.W. envisioned building a house near Kaiser Permanente hospital Santa Clara, where families who reside a significant distance away can stay during hospitalisation of their child or family member. Jan Willem lived by his motto "Never ever give up". He spent the final two years of his young life working to raise money, in between all his medical treatments, to build his legacy. J. W. passed away in 2005. His family and his trusted doctor, who was profoundly inspired and moved by his mission, worked to continue the goal of creating a place he would be proud of. They succeeded mightily. The 5,700-square foot building, located nearest one of the cancer treatment departments and still within walking distance to the hospital, has four individual suites in addition to rooms families can use: the large common space area, which includes living room, children's play room, dining room; a laundry room, kitchen, day use room, outdoor patio, workout area and back yard. It is a beautiful warm safe peaceful space... truly, a home. Generous volunteers -- organisations as well as individuals -- from around the region donate snacks and even hot meals for families whose loved one is in the hospital next door. JW House welcomed its first family December the third of 2008. And it has been continuously helping the community and families of Kaiser Santa Clara patients ever since. read more

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JW house is such a blessing. My child was in the hospital for 9 days when you have a little one or even a teen it's difficult to leave their side or go to far. JW house was a place I can get away from the hospital and shower, do laundry, provide a different place to disconnect from what's going on with your loved one's health. The staff is very kind and they just allow you to relax they are there to serve you and let you just feel some sense of normalcy. There's rooms to stay in, laundry area, computer/printer use, showers, cozy living area, and outdoor area. It's nice to know there's a place like this with caring and kind volunteers when you need it the most. If you are caring for a family member in the hospital you can come here to feel additional support. Thank you JW house for all you helped with me and my situation! read more

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I cannot express how amazing this place is. The people that work here are amazing! Volunteers are sweet! And obviously accommodations were beyond what we could ask for. Here we received meals, a bed and an area where we can meditate or just enjoy the sun. But most importantly I felt support and empathy. I would give this place 10 stars if I could!!! read more

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JW House was referred to my mom by one of the nurses at Kaiser Permanente. She and I were staying at a motel in town to be with my dad who was at Kaiser gearing up for his second open heart surgery in less than half a year. During this very stressful time, I've very appreciative for this place and everything that the volunteers have done. We already paying for the motel to be out here for 10 days, so it was nice to have an option to have complementary meals to easy the financial strain. On top of that, it was also nice to just have a place to hang out and relax in a comfortable area that's very kid friendly with snacks, rooms, and a place to take a shower. Very close too; right behind the hospital. The volunteers were very nice and the meals that they prepared were very delicious. The most memorable being the curry chicken I had. I'm also grateful for the availably wifi and access to the printer because my daughter was on her final two weeks of school in her online academy so we did quite a bit of her lessons and homework from JW House. Thank you for everything. read more

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Everyone has been SO wonderful and helped us tremulously in a very stressful time for our family. It is a beautiful property & brings a sense of peace outside the hospital. thank you so very much to everyone there. you carried us in our time of need. read more

Not a guaranteed place to stay, especially if you're there for an emergency. They don't answer their phones - ever. We tried for two days straight. I finally walked over there, explained that my partner was there for an emergency surgery and we'd already been in a nearby hospital for a week. I had been driving back and forth on hour each way. The hospital next to them is almost two hours away, and all they could do is put me on a "waiting list". You can get food and a place to hang outside of the hospital, that's nice. But don't count on their answering the phone or actually letting you stay there ($70/night). read more

The JW House was truly a blessing. We stayed here a couple years ago when my father had undergone heart surgeries. My parents lived a couple hours away and staying at the surrounding hotels long term was not affordable. It's a beautiful home, that's well maintained and kept running on a daily basis by a team of wonderful volunteers. The home is clean, safe, has a peaceful garden area, kids play area with toys, library and all the comforts of home. There are three meals a day, snacks in the kitchen and free wi-fi. When you're going through tough times and going back and forth to the hospital, these small acts of kindness really mean the world to a family of a sick patient. You're so worried about your loved one that you forget to eat, sleep and take care of yourself. JW house is a jewel in this community and I know it will continue to serve future guests well. read more

beautiful, well maintained place as part of kaiser hospital. I volunteered to cook dinner for a day. it was a very easy sign up process on their website which is surprisingly well updated. they respond very quickly on email. i opted to cook vegetarian meal from home, for about 20 people, and went over to deliver the meal by 4pm. i took my own utensils, but over there i could transfer it in their storage containers. I find volunteering with them very easy, and flexible. read more

what an amazing place filled with amazing people. im shocked there is any reviews less than 5 stars. for my family and I this place was such a blessing during a time when we needed it most read more

Where do I begin to start this review! First off The JW House is a home away from home for patients family member(s) who need a stress free break.They provide food, room and board, a place to freshen up and a place where you have people that are going through it as you are so you can talk with some who understands. I've seen this place first hand make miracles happen.I've seen them feed full families who otherwise would go hungry. I've seen them make Christmas happen to kids who otherwise wouldn't have one. And many many more. This place which was made possible by one of our former cancer high schoolers wanted to give a place for families of patients that are admitted somewhere to go where they can decompress so to speak. They do rely on donations to feed the families that stay here. They get donations from restaurants and actual families cook meals in the kitchen for dinner time. So if you know a family or any restaurateurs or people who just want to donate pantry goods then please spread the word. I should've done this review years ago but this message was to important for me to sit on any longer.Thank you!!! read more

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When this place was referred to us by a Kaiser social worker I pictured a run down dirty place where there was a long line of homeless people waiting for free food and shelter. I was totally wong. JW House began as an idea of a boy, Jan-Willem Knappen (JW) who was diagnosed with brain cancer when he was a freshman in high school. He wanted to do something for children and families dealing with similar situations. It is a beautiful house located at the site of Santa Clara Kaiser but any individual receiving treatment and their families at any hospital are welcomed here. We came here to be close to our newborn while she stayed in the NICU. It was convenient to hang out here than drive 10 miles every 3 hours to feed and be with her. The house kitchen is always stocked with delicious food, there are always volunteers making some yummy treats! There's a a couple of rooms with a TV, there are books, games, and toys for children. The dining room has a few tables and chairs, it's where we've talked to a few people dealing with medical crisis, like NICU parents who were often there too. The laundry is free to use. There's a nice garden outside, it's so peaceful that it was my favorite place to relax and take a nap. It is so cool that it's free to eat and hang out here and they do accept donations! This place is helluva lot better than hanging out in the hospital! There are also rooms available for an overnight stay for $30 a night. Thank you, JW house! You are a very, very, very fine house. There are no cats in the yard (thank goodness!) but everything is a little easier because of you.... read more

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The JW House is an amazing place that they offer to help the patients / families that are at Kaiser Sunnyvale! It has helped my family so much during going to the hospital. We have visited this place many times and it is a great place to just reset your mind and body, and get away from the hospital for just a little bit. There's home cooked foods, snacks and drinks that really help out. Amazing place / idea that my family have started donating to this place because it is a great cause. It has helped out so many family and friends that we will continue to donate to their cause. read more

I'm a little embarrassed to say that I didn't even know about this place until recently when I volunteered to cook and serve dinner at JW house through our high school alumni community program. A few weeks before, the organizer schoolmate provided the menu (based on the guidelines) and collected donations for the groceries to feed about 25-30 people. I signed up to make two proteins (meat and non-meat) and a large salad. Others also made dishes and purchased desserts. We cooked our food mostly at home, after we arrived at the house, we first received a tour and then proceeded to reheat, assemble or do last minute prep for the dinner. They posted a nicely printed dinner menu with pictures, what a nice idea. The kitchen is modern and well equipped, everything you may need from a home kitchen and more. Our food was transferred to the nice platters and bowls to be served; family members of hospitalized patients started to come in at 6 PM, they helped themselves to a home cooked meal with real plates, forks and knifes. We had a great turn out, the guests appeared to have enjoyed the food (almost everything was gone by 7), most of them ate at the dinning area, a few took the food to go with containers provided. Like many others have mentioned, it is a beautiful place run by a small staff and supported by many volunteers. Everyone there was very kind, warm, helpful and with great sense of humor. It was a very rewarding experience for us, will do again and highly recommend others to volunteer. read more

JW House is something that I hope you never need - that being said if you do need it, it is a total blessing. There are rooms to stay in if you have family/child in the hospital, there is always too much food, snacks & sweets for you to pick from and pack up to cart back to the hospital, and the environment is nothing but safe. There are a ton of grandmas around the place who are volunteers and a lot of materials like art supplies, magazines, toothbrush, etc, there for you to use. Thank you JW. Bless you. read more

Good morning my name is Allison and I had my first overnight at the JW house this place is amazing it's amazing for when you're going through a hard time my husband had a triple bypass we came here via ambulance he was supposed to get a stand and it turned into triple bypass I was able to come here before I had the night over to take a shower to rest in my own private room my own private shower I was able to come get dinner between 6:00 and 7:00 to have snacks volunteers are wonderful from all different ages to all different ethnicities young adults teenagers seniors people my age mid age volunteering their time and their kindness this place is clean it is safe it is beautiful the JW house I believe runs on donations we've been in the hospital for a while now and so I was staying in my husband's room until he went to the ICU I was able to secure a room the staff has been extremely helpful accommodating it's been a blessing for me to be able to take a little break and to be able to come here and relax and then go back to the hospital and be in a good mood and be positive and supportive the best way I can be for my husband if you ever think about donating this is the place to donate if you need their help reach out don't be afraid it's not weird I was afraid I thought oh my gosh it was going to be weird but it was a blessing it was calming it was relaxing buy me tears right now of how wonderful this place has been to me so if you want to donate this is is the place to donate your hard-earned cash I'm at the Kaiser Permanente in Santa Clara in the cardiac unit this place has been a blessing thank you so much JW house love Allison also thank you to Vicki and Melissa and all the stuff here you guys have been amazing I've never would have thought this place would have been available for me thank you so so much​​​​​ read more

If you haven't heard about this place, you are missing out. This place is awesome!!!! It's a nice place to destress after a long day at the hospital. I could have sworn a wrote a review on my 1st Yelp account about them but I guess it never made it passed a draft. 2011...... you never know much stress you are under unless it is relieved. They really do make you fell great. They have good food, activities, and all kinds of stuff. If your loved one is dealing with a health issue and you need a break this place is for you and they are welcome Beautiful hardwood floors when you are walking in, a person greets with you with a warm smile or a deep voice. You can read, color, watch TV or relax. The air feels different when you go their. Whether you th think you need it or not, visit this place if a loved one maybe dealing with a major health issue. Thank you again guys, our family will never forget you! #jwhouse #kaiser #mcdonald #yelp #elites #twitter #share #grateful read more

I can give this home five stars (even though I haven't stayed there) because I went for a tour yesterday, my son is in the brain trauma rehab center (Journey to Recovery) at Santa Clara. I've actually been there now, done a tour, used thee day room, washed my clothes and eaten dinner. April had set me up a few times with great hotels at their amazing price and it was so needed. Starting 24/7 in a hospital room is not easy! As I was washing clothes one day and telling April to please keep me on her list...she came to me with an offer to stay in a studio apartment in Sunnyvale. I went and checked it out, Sue, the owner, is amazing also and here I am. The JWHouse truly lives up to their reputation! Thank you April. Thank you Sue! read more

A blessing vision from a young boy Jan-Willem Knapen a Bellarmine boy who was diagnosed with cancer at age 12. He had an idea for a comforting home to help families who were going though a severe medical crisis. He saw his own parents suffer. Jan-Willem passed away at 16 but the spirit of his vision lives on in the volunteers who help support beautiful large "home". In 2013 with a family member in ICU for 5 months. JW was a safe haven where I could step away and feel comfort and calm of "home" right on the Kaiser hospital campus. This is a large "home" where you could rest relax and clear your mind from chaos. I lived in the area so I never had to stay overnight in the lovely rooms. However they even had a day room for anyone who needed to nap for several hours along with a computer station. The backyard was relaxing and you felt a million miles away from anxiety. A cute wishing well in the back. The dinners were lovely. I could step in and make a simple sandwich for lunch in their gorgeous kitchen with fresh fruit, chips, juice. They even had PB&J! Yogurt, cold cuts, lettuce, veggies, salad dressing, cheese sticks oatmeal cereal etc etc. a fully stocked kitchen! There was something sweet always baking in their large ovens. They even had a game room area for kids. The volunteer staff was so kind thoughtful gracious and sensitive. They always had something fresh and yummy to eat. Truly a satisfying warm "grandma" dinner meal was served every night. I even had a shoulder massage volunteered from a local masseuse. I am very appreciative of good memories in the JW house during a difficult time. Upon referral from hospital, please contact them for policies, serving times, availabilities and access. Hugs to Jan-Willem and to all the volunteers! read more

This place is awesome. They have been so kind to me during what has been a hard 7 months For me and my family, I am always in and out of the hospital for my child and I get really hungry afterward and I can stop by, get something to eat, I can nurse her and get a rest. The place is beautiful and clean and very welcoming. read more

Our first night in the hospital, the Kaiser staff told us about this little house just down the way on the Kaiser campus that families could go to for a meal and a place just to get away and relax while their child is in the hospital. When the nurses were talking about this place, I had in my head that it was kind of like a hospital cafeteria of some sort, that you go in, grab a tray and grab some food. We were getting hungry, my son was getting some rest, so we decided to walk to the JW House. As we approached the house, I noticed how beautiful the outside was. We walked up the pathway to the front door and was greeted by a volunteer who welcomed us and took us to the kitchen. THE KITCHEN... not a cafeteria. The kitchen was huge and beautiful... fully functioning. The night we were there, a volunteer had made chicken fajitas. REAL FOOD! We were able to make our own plates, grab our own drinks and sit down at beautiful kitchen tables. There were other families in there as well. Some were chit chatting and happy, some were sad. As I ate my meal I wondered what other families were going thru. I was able to sit and eat my meal, and think and talk and cry and everyone just kinda had an understanding about why were are all there. When you were finished with your meal, you have to rinse off your own dishes, and put them in the dishwasher. They also had several desserts to chose from as well. After our meal, we got a tour of this FANTASTIC HOUSE. Those who are reading this review I encourage you to google the JW House and its history, such a touching story. This house is so beautiful and its fully functioning. The kitchen is fully stocked, cereal, meats, condiments anything you can possibly need. The laundry room is fully stocked, in case you are at the hospital for several days and need to wash some clothes for your family or special blankets you brought. There are private rooms you can go into to just relax, take a nap, get online, pay bills etc... There are bathrooms with showers that you can use if you are not local and cant get home to clean up. There are also family suites that you can reserve in advance in case of a long stay at the hospital. The house is cleaned daily and spotless. The back yard was also so beautiful. I loved my experience so much at the JW House. I will forever be grateful for my time, although minimal at this place. Families are so blessed to be able to have this house to turn to when they have a loved one in the hospital. read more

We were fortunate to be able to stay at JW House in Santa Clara. We enjoyed the hospitality of the staff/volunteers. the food was delicious and being able to go to the kitchen and whip up your own dish made me feel right at home. Our room was wonderful, with two twin beds, a couch pull out bed and a day bed it was perfect for us ( and they had a crib for my 4 month old), I can't forget to mention our own kitchen and door to our outside patio, it was AMAZING!!! My family and I felt welcomed and my kids enjoyed it so much they did not want to leave. Thank You so very dearly JW, this experience was definitely needed during these stress full times and we will forever be grateful. read more

My aunt is in the ICU unit and the nurse was kind enough to mention this place to me and my family . So we went ahead and walked over . There was three elderly ladies . I wish I would of gotten their names so i can get more in to detail, but the tallest lady there just made it so uncomfortable made smart comments and was whispering to the other elderly woman as if we weren't RIGHT THERE . Just standing there watching us . This is a wonderful and appreciated free service, but what's the point when u don't even feel comfortable? Didn't expect food to be great but salad bar wasn't fresh, pizza was stale and old . Over all, the whole set up was beautiful. read more

Special. I hardly have the words to describe. I delivered my twins early and too far from home. I couldn't leave them in the Nicu and head home, I needed to be there with my babies and my other children but had no family close by. The JW was the a bright light in a dark place. They opened their doors and welcomed my family with smiles. We had a beautiful 2 room suite with beds for at least 5 and access to laundry, playroom, private patio, community yard with play area, and a sprawling kitchen filled with a stocked pantry and fridge. The "deserted island" in the middle of the kitchen always loaded with desserts and homemade deliciousness for the whole family. Dinner was provided each night by different groups across the valley and homemade deliciousness! This place is so homey and warm. A young boy who died of cancer worked with architects to create a "home away from home" where families could be welcomed and stay while they had children in the Nicu or picu or battling cancer. This place was his dream and the energy and smiles of each volunteer there keep him and his dream alive. I found myself depressed, scared, overwhelmed, and tired and my family and I were hugged, well fed and loved during a difficult time and and sometimes a home cooked meal and a smile can help more than you think!! I'm so thankful for the JW house and the staff that make it so much more than a building but a home. I will always hold a dear place for them in my heart and now that my babies are well and home I will make sure to stay in touch and donate what I can. The world needs more souls like JW and the staff at the JW house. read more

best feeling in the world to be able to have rest and a hot meal while my baby girl was hospitalized for 1 month. i wasnt a resident of santa clara county at the time i felr lost and so worried . they all help me , being a single mother thru thos obstacle , thank u soo much ....oh n btw and the best volunteers so nice and helpful... read more

JW House was there for me , a breast cancer patient who was not living in the area. I was told about it from the American Cancer Society. I talked with April on the phone first, but Being on disability I didn't know if I could even afford it. Even though it was only 40 dollars per night. They take families of sick children first before adults, so when the huse was full they gave me vouchers to stay at the marriot, just down the street. This place is so amazing. I wish they had a "smile amazon" account so my purchases would help them. I have looked for them but they are not listed. Like other reviews, I can't say enough about them. What I was going through was tough and scary. But everyone there has been through it. They understand. They are warm, kind and generous. I can't say enough. If possible I would give them 10 stars. Great human beings. So nice. I should have written this review back in 2015. Thankfully, Im in remission. I don't think I couldve managed without their assistance. The stress would've been so hard for me. Thanks to all the volunteers, and April and the lady with beautiful curly red hair, that I can't remember her name. Very nice people. Comapassionate. Lovely. Thank you from the bottom of my heart read more