American Cancer Society Hope Lodge Thanksgiving Dinner Kicks Off Holiday Season

American Cancer Society Hope Lodge in Atlanta is one of 30 communities across the United States and Canada which provide no cost housing for those undergoing cancer treatments and their caregivers when the medical care they’re receiving is far from home. 

Hope Lodge — which offers guest suites with private bathrooms, a communal kitchen and dining area, and laundry rooms — assists 29,000 patients and caregivers every year and has housed more than 6 million patients with cancer since the program’s inception in 1970.

In early November, more than a dozen Georgia Power employees visited Atlanta’s Hope Lodge to serve an early Thanksgiving dinner and kick off the holiday season. In addition to personally purchasing and preparing rotisserie chicken, mashed potatoes, green beans, macaroni and cheese, and three types of pie, Georgia Power employees donated gift cards and prizes for the residents to play a round of trivia. 

While the festive November event is one of three organized by Georgia Power at Hope Lodge throughout the year, it’s the favorite of Georgia Power teammate Rhonda, project chair for the Hope Lodge service project.

“When you come here and participate in the event and you see the caregivers and the patients, you see the real need and how much they appreciate the meal we provide,” Rhonda, who works in land acquisition, said. “It’s just a chance for them to forget about their situation for a while.”

With how costly cancer treatment can be, financially and emotionally, Kaprena, who works on Georgia Power’s customer engagement team, said these events, while they seem simple, provide a large impact.

“It is humbling and rewarding at the same time and it's also emotional when you talk to the actual patients or their family members and you hear their stories,” she said after volunteering for the event. “It's awesome that companies like ours can come in and help and contribute to them not having to worry about a meal.”

More information about Hope Lodges across the United States, how to donate, and how to stay at a Hope Lodge can be found on the American Cancer Society’s website.