PPMC is proud to have so many compassionate, outreach-focused staff members who are eager to make a difference and serve those in need, both on and off the clock. Some travel halfway across the world to work with remote communities, some partner with local groups they’re passionate about, and others take a 15-minute walk off campus to bring smiles and share hot meals with overwhelmed patients and their weary caregivers. That was the case when Danielle Welde, RN, Megan Hand, RN, Katie O’Connell, RN, Kirsten Smith, CNS, and Liana Soyfer, RN, all members of the Cupp 4 East Nursing team, teamed up with the Clyde F. Barker Penn Transplant House in University City.
Run by the Penn Transplant Institute, the Transplant House supports patients, families, and caregivers who are traveling – sometimes considerable distances – for treatment by providing comfortable, affordable accommodations. This ensures that no family needs to worry about financial or housing insecurity during the already challenging process of waiting for an organ transplant. As a temporary “home away from home,” the house offers private rooms, laundry facilities, fitness and educational spaces, a relaxing courtyard, and an emotional support network of empathetic staff, volunteers, and other patients and families working through similar experiences.
Although the communal kitchen and dining area are large enough for multiple families to prepare meals at the same time, long days supporting their loved ones in the hospital can sometimes make cooking seem less like a welcome distraction and more like an exhausting chore. To provide relief from convenient, but unfulfilling grab-and-go snacks and fast food, the Transplant House invites “guest chefs” to volunteer their time and cooking skills by preparing healthy alternatives throughout the week.
“A representative from the Transplant House came to a PPMC Community Outreach Council meeting to talk about the work they do for transplant recipients and their families. As the council representative for my floor, I presented their Guest Chef program to my unit as a volunteer opportunity,” Welde said. “It turned out to be a great chance to take some time out of our schedules and make a difference as a group outside of our normal workplace.”
The team laid out a hearty spread for the guests of the Transplant House to enjoy – including baked ziti, Caesar salad, baguettes, and desserts — then joined the families at the tables.
“The guests were able to relax for a while and share a meal and their stories with us. They were so appreciative of us coming, but it was really rewarding for us too,” Welde said. “It was a great experience, and we hope to do it again as a unit later this fall.”
The Clyde F. Barker Penn Transplant House is always welcoming volunteers, and donated items are also needed to continue making the house a cozy, welcoming home. To learn more about how you can support patients and their families through their transplant journey, contact house manager Kirsten King at Kirsten.King@pennmedicine.upenn.edu.