The Kiwanis Family House was built through the efforts of many Kiwanis club volunteers from the Sacramento area. It opened on July 23, 1984 to answer an urgent need for temporary housing for the families of pediatric patients at the UCD Children’s Hospital in Sacramento. Prior to its existence, there were no accommodations available at the hospital, and no nearby hotel or motel facilities that were safe and affordable. When a child was in a life-threatening condition as a result of cystic fibrosis, cancer, prenatal difficulties, or trauma from an accident, the distraught families who needed to be near their child were forced to sleep in their cars, with no access to bathing, bathrooms, laundry facilities or a place to gain respite from their overwhelming fears. So, in many cases, children were left without the comfort of their parent’s presence because the parents could not afford to find temporary housing for extended stays.

Located on property donated by the UC Davis Medical Center, the Kiwanis Family House offers 32 bedrooms, each with shower and bathroom facilities, four kitchens with dining areas for self-meal preparation, laundry room, a child’s game room and an outdoor play area. Families have free long-distance phone and internet access, free shuttle bus transportation to and from the hospital 24 hours a day.

Because families often arrive in emergency situations, the Kiwanis Family House also provides a clothes closet and toiletries, a food closet, and all necessary cooking and dining equipment. The Family House provides clean bedding and towels. Kiwanis volunteers and staff assist families 24 hours a day every day of the year. There is a nominal rent fee for families which can be reduced or waived, depending upon their financial circumstances.

Guest families that stay at the Kiwanis Family House should live at least 35 miles from Sacramento. While most families live in California, many come from all parts of the United States as well as internationally.

The Kiwanis Family House has been able to successfully meet its mission of helping families in need since 1984 only through the financial and volunteer support of Kiwanis clubs and their members, and through the generosity of the community at large. It is with this continued support that the Kiwanis Family House will be able to continue to help these families in need far into the future.

See also other local services & organizations.

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Volunteer

Volunteers are needed daily between 9am-6pm and help the staff with any tasks that need to be done that day. Most tasks involve maintaining the property with cleaning inside or outside the building.

Donations

Donations can be made online and all major credit cards are accepted. Donations can be a single about or a monthly donation and donations can be made in honor or memory of someone.

Mailed donations can be made to:

Kiwanis Family House

2875 50th Street

Sacramento, Ca 95817

Wish List

other ways to help the Kiwanis Family House is with items on the wish lists. Some items are needed more than others and it is encouraged to call (916) 736-0116 to find out what items are currently needed.

Most needed:

• Laundry soap
• Paper towels
• Clean Edge Business Card hard stock, Avery 8871
• Kleenex
• Small (6”) stuffed animals (like Beanie Babies®)
• Office supplies:
  • Copy paper
  • Ink cartridges for the following computer printers:
    • EPSON: StylUS C86 AND STYLUS C88
    • HP 5610 22(C9352A), 56(CU656A)
• Cleaning supplies:
  • Laundry soap
  • Bleach
  • Fabric softener
  • Liquid dish washing machine soap
  • Small bottle dish washing soap
  • Shower spray cleaner
  • Oven cleaner
  • All non-abrasive cleaning supplies (like used in your home)
• Personal care items:
  • Deodorants
  • Hair brushes
• Kitchen supplies:
  • soup and food
  • Coffee
  • Sugar
  • Paper towels
  • Napkins
  • Air Wick w/airfreshener warmer
  • Ziplock Freezer Bags - Quart/Gallon
  • Room Deodorizors (we have holder need refills only (Cool, Mtn Breeze, Vanilla)
  • Personal Travel Size Shampoo, Conditioner, etc.
  • Individually Wrapped Candy

Some information from the Kiwanis Family House website.

Comments

2011-10-27 08:26:06   “This report was written for Cynthia Linville’s English 20 class at CSU Sacramento [Fall 2011].” —BrittanyAllen