Volunteer Spotlight: Mary Kane

Mary Kane is one of our weekly volunteers - and she truly shines like the star she is. Mary is devoted to making every visit count and creates such a positive environment for families. She is always professional, encouraging, and committed to the work she performs.

Mary started volunteering November of 2016 and has given more than 100 hours to Family House!

"I always leave Family House with a full heart." – Mary

On behalf of the families and staff, we say THANK YOU to Mary for all that she offers and her help in making Family House a better place.

Albert Schweitzer Fellowship 2017-18 Leadership Award

Congratulations to Board Chair Steve Goldfarb and Board Member/Family Services Committee Chair Linda Goldfarb on being recipients of the 2017-18 Albert Schweitzer Fellowship Leadership Award for Outstanding Community Service for 15 years of service to Family House.

Steve Goldfarb is the current Board Chair, and was instrumental in securing the land in Mission Bay upon which to build the 80-bedroom Nancy and Stephen Grand Family House, which opened in March, 2016. Linda Goldfarb is also on the Board of Directors, and is Chair of the Family Services Committee – a group of dedicated community members who identify areas of support for the parents and children staying at Family House.

Most recently, the Family Services Committee coordinated a Mother’s Day Celebration, which included local businesses contributing to a day of pampering for the moms at Family House. The Mother’s Day Celebration is just one of many special events where volunteers and donors come join together to lift the spirits of help families and help them live with dignity live in dignity during the most difficult time of their lives. In addition to their Board service, Linda and Steve volunteer at Family House with their 4PAWS therapy dogs, Fozzy and Ollie. They conceived of Fozzy’s Toy Room and helped see it through so that every child who comes to Family House can choose a new toy to call their own, and in turn be more comfortable at Family House. As the owners of Anomaly Vineyards in St. Helena, they have also participated in Cabernet for Connoisseurs, Family House’s largest annual fundraiser.

The Leadership Award for Outstanding Community Service is presented to individuals who, like Albert Schweitzer, have “made their lives their argument” by adopting Schweitzer’s Reverence for Life as the cornerstone for giving their time and resources to people, institutions, and causes that serve the neediest among us.

We thank them for their many years of service to Family House families, and congratulate them on this much-deserved award!

Feelings Cards

Sometimes, when you’re feeling overwhelmed, it can be hard to use your mental energy to help resolve your feelings. We created a set of “feelings cards” that are in every guest room at Family House. They may not fix everything, but sometimes a simple reminder can be enough to help you on a path to feeling better.

One mom asked if we have any cards for when you go home... Family Services Coordinator Elan Slavin came up with a few ideas that someone can use from anywhere!

I’m Feeling Lonely
You Can…

- Call or text a friend… “just to say hi!”

- Reach out to your trusted support network
- Ask for a hug

I’m Feeling Creative
You Can…

- Gather a few art supplies (even a piece of paper and a pen will do), walk outside, and find inspiration in nature around you

- Do a five minute writing exercise:
    - Define Love
    - Normal is…
    - List 5 things you expect in a good friend
    - List 3 things you DIDN’T do this weekend
    - Name one food you will never give up

I’m Feeling Frustrated
You Can…

- Take 3 deep, slow breadths and count to 10

- Reach out to someone you trust, who is a good listener - and vent!

- Create a “pros and cons” list of what’s frustrating you

- Visualize your HAPPY PLACE

I’m Feeling Happy
You Can…

- Start a Gratitude journal!

- Start by listing the top 3 things in your life to be grateful for

- Play! Go outside & enjoy some fresh air

- Find some “me” time - do what you love to do most

- Pay it Forward - do one thing kind for someone else



Have more ideas? We’d love to hear them!

Anna Lark, Family Services Coordinator

Interview with Anna Lark, Family Services Coordinator

How did you come to be at Family House?

I’m originally from the Modesto area, and actually first came to Family House in 2001 when my brother, Joshua, was being treated for cancer. I stayed at the original 50 Irving Street Family House with my parents and siblings.  (Joshua has now been cancer free for 10 years, and he lives in San Francisco, too, after graduating college.)

Years after staying at Family House, I came to San Francisco and attended San Francisco State University, studying Studio Art, Holistic Health, and Art History. I felt “disconnected” from Family House because I hadn’t been back for such a long time, and one day just felt compelled to knock on the door at the 10th Avenue house to ask about volunteer activities (which is kind of funny because I had never stayed at there!).

So that was in 2012 that I started volunteering once or twice a month, hosting arts and crafts activities. I later signed on as a Weekend Manager, and worked regularly in that position through 2013, while I was finishing college. I graduated from SF State in 2014, and decided to stay in the Bay Area after that. I feel like I’m really a “San Francisco girl,” and I attribute that to staying at Family House. I really fell in love with the city, with the people at Family House, the nurses… We were treated with so much love, and had so many amazing opportunities: we went to lots of Giants games - JT Snow (a first baseman from the Giants) would buy out a section for charity at each game; we were treated like movie stars at the Star Wars Episode 3 Premiere (in 2005).

How has Family House changed since you first started?

The staff has expanded by so much, but it’s maintained the same key players - [CEO] Alexandra Morgan, [Director of Finance & Special Events] Jessica Creager, [Director of Operations] Paul Goold…  When I first stayed at Family House, there were only 10 families a night, and now it’s 34 per night, which is incredible. And that’s going to change again to serve even more families, which is unbelievable!  I love the communication amongst all the staff - I’ve never had a job before where everybody claps for each other during a staff meeting. It feels like a team, like a family.

I love the amount of people we can help, and the connections that we build here. The one thing that’s stayed the same is how connected people become here: the families really work to create a family environment, and everyone is so willing to work together to do that. It’s a loving community, which is amazing when you’re going through something so difficult as having a sick child.

What are some of your favorite Family House memories?

[Director of Operations] Paul’s dog Sing! I didn’t like dogs, but I was super fond of Sing (and Paul, of course) - it was a pleasure to have her around. And [former Resident Manager] Kent Smith’s dog, too! One day, Paul and Kent got the dogs little paw mittens, and the two dogs were running around - it was so cute and charming.

I was homeschooled by my mom while we were staying on the third floor at 50 Irving. And it was amazing to be up on there doing arts and crafts volunteering with the kids. I remembered doing homework and writing reports in that room - so many fond memories.

Learn more about Anna and the rest of the Family House staff at http://www.familyhouseinc.org/staff.html