The generosity of strangers is staggering.

"Our families are consistently amazed at the generosity of strangers that provide this wonderful home for them," wrote Jodi Land, the business manager of the two Fisher Houses on Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

"The Fisher Houses are all about comforting; about providing a place that offers a sense of security and understanding."

JBLM's original Fisher House is located at 9999 Wilson Avenue; the Fisher House II, the new one, is located at 90700 Gardner Loop.

Its mission is grounded in generosity.

"We provide servicemembers and their families with a comfortable, nurturing and safe environment while they or a loved one receives care at the Madigan Army Medical Center," continued Land.

These houses of generosity are loaded with history.

Zachary and Elizabeth Fisher established the Fisher House program, and the first Fisher House opened in June 1990 at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland.

To date, the program consists of more than 60 houses located near Veterans Affairs hospitals and military installations across the country and in Europe.

The growth from one to two houses meets a growing need.

"Both Houses are eighty percent full," Land continued.

"There are times in the past when we were full, we used our ‘Hotel For Heroes Program' in order to meet the need of putting loved ones in hotels so they can be close to each other."

To meet the growing need to serve families, Fisher House II opened last November.  It is larger than the original Fisher House, and it is located near Madigan's Medical Mall.

"One hundred percent of every dollar we receive in donations goes directly to running these houses," Land stressed.

She added that every donation has an immediate and positive impact on the Fisher Houses' mission, and that their operations are based solely on the contributions we receive.

The CFC donation number for the Fisher House is 56608.

"The generosity of strangers is truly amazing, and we are very thankful," concluded Land.

For more information, visit www.fisherhouse-jblm.org, email info@fisherhouse-jblm.org, or call 253.964.9283.