Molly’s House, a beloved Treasure Coast nonprofit, is actively engaged in reimagining its mission while remaining true to its roots.

Molly’s House was established by generous community members in 1996 as a home away from home for family members undergoing treatment at Martin Health System hospitals. It grew out of an outpouring of love after the death of Molly Sharkey at just 18 years old from a rare type of leukemia.

It was Molly’s dream to have a hospitality house in her hometown, similar to a Ronald McDonald house, that would be available to any family who has a loved one being treated for care at area hospitals. Donors and supporters made that possible.

“We’ve built a beautiful legacy of families in crisis coming together at Molly’s House and helping each other on the journey through a family members’ illness,” said Molly’s House Executive Director Katie Bartlett. “But healthcare has changed over the 28 years since Molly’s House was established. We need to change as well.”

In 1996, patients with serious illnesses typically stayed in the hospital for days or even weeks. Their families, especially out of town families, needed a place to stay that would be close to the medical facility, warm, welcoming, and affordable. Molly’s House was the perfect solution.

Patients now spend less time in the hospital but may return for outpatient procedures on a frequent and perhaps grueling schedule. “We’re finding that it the patients themselves who need a place to stay,” Bartlett said. “Traveling to and from a heavy schedule of cancer treatments, for example, or scheduling rides every day can add an extra layer of stress and exhaustion for patients, especially for patients from rural communities with limited access to healthcare. Staying at Molly’s House gives them the rest time they need and the emotional support of our staff and volunteers.”

Joe Endress, Molly’s House Board Chair, agrees. “Our board members are very aware of the emerging needs of patients and families in our greater community,” Endress said, “and we’re committed to creating new ways to serve them.”

Bartlett told the story of one recent Molly’s House guest who lived in Okeechobee and needed eight weeks of chemotherapy at Stuart Oncology. Her grandson was her sole source of transportation, but he had a full time job. “Thanks to Molly’s House,” Bartlett said, “her grandson didn’t have to quit his job to be her driver. As a guest in our house for those eight weeks, she was able to receive all of her treatments without any interruptions. Our volunteers made sure we coordinated her rides, provided her with groceries, and extended the warmth and love of the entire Molly’s House community.”

The board and staff of Molly’s House will be working with their community partners throughout the spring to refine the services they offer within the beauty of the vision of a home away from home. For example, Cleveland Clinic Martin recently conducted a community health needs assessment that identified access to care as a problem, particularly for the elderly, low-and-middle-income families, veterans, and families experiencing housing insecurity. Molly’s House will be working with the Cleveland Clinic Community Advisory Council as one of the community partners addressing this and other pressing needs.

For more information about Molly’s House, visit www.mollyshouse.org, follow Molly’s House on Facebook, or call 772-223-6659.