Homes With a Heart

Since 2000, Jon and Danielle Mewes have opened their home to non-local families of patients being treated at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford. Guests who are unable to be accommodated by the Ronald McDonald House are invited to stay in the Meweses’ vacant, on-site cottage for free, as long as needed.

Danielle says, “It’s something that is very easy for us to do for others and is also healing for us too. We feel lucky to have this place that we can offer as a home to families who need to be close to the hospital.”

Having their own experience with hospitalizing both their son and daughter, the Meweses related to the struggle that families go through, especially those from out of town. Given that their guest cottage was rarely used, the idea to offer it to patient families, they felt, was an easy way they could help.

Oscar Calderon, housing and transportation coordinator, says, “Jon and Danielle are very special people. They do their best to make the families staying with them as comfortable as possible and do whatever the family needs in order to help them during their difficult time.”

Over 15 years, the Meweses have hosted nearly 30 families and almost always have long-term guests staying in their cottage. They have contributed more than 30,000 volunteer hours to our hospital’s Homes with a Heart program.