Submitted photo From left, Rotary Program Chair Scott Goddard, Rosenbaum Family House staff members Denver Allen, Joshua Spurbeck and Pamela Shriver joined Rotary President Phillips Kolsun at the group’s regular weekly meeting.

ELKINS — Rosenbaum Family House is located on the J.W. Ruby Memorial Hospital campus of WVU Medicine in Morgantown and serves as a home away from home for adult patients and their families while receiving care at WVU Medicine.

Rosenbaum Family House was established in 1999 by Hilda Rosenbaum. The Rosenbaums lost a daughter to cystic fibrosis at the age of 6. During her treatment, the family was forced to spend nights sleeping on cots or in chairs in her hospital room because there were no accommodations available for them. Shortly after their daughter’s death, their son was also diagnosed with the disease. Around the same time, WVU had built its first hospital and their son was able to receive care close to home until his death at age 36. Mrs. Rosenbaum then made the financial commitment to build a place to help others facing similar situations and Rosenbaum Family House was established.

The facility was initially attached to Ruby Memorial Hospital but 12 years ago a new facility was built (across the parking lot from the hospital), increasing the number of rooms from 30 to 40. Since opening in 1999, more than 28,300 guests from all 50 states and 14 countries have been served by Rosenbaum Family House.

In order for patients to qualify for Rosenbaum Family House, they must live 50 miles or more from Morgantown, must be an inpatient or an outpatient receiving treatment every 48 hours and must be referred by a member of the WVU Medicine staff. At any given time, there can be a waitlist of between 15 to 75 people and the waiting time averages 3 to 5 days. The cost to stay at Rosenbaum Family House is $30 per night per family however, no guests are turned away for the inability to pay. Patients must also be 18 years or older and they must have an appropriate caregiver with them. “We have folks who are with us for quite a long time. The most time we’ve ever had someone stay with us was 240 consecutive days,” said Shriver. “We are now in this beautiful new building with 40 rooms, comprised of eleven apartments and 29 regular guest rooms.”

Rosenbaum House has everything that a hotel room has for its guests with the exceptions of the apartments that are self-contained for guests with immuno-compromised situations. Free meals are provided five to seven nights a week. The meals are provided through the generosity of the community or, if there is no meal scheduled for a particular evening, Rosenbaum provides the meal. Various community members visit the house to perform concerts, play games with the guests or provide craft programs. “Tonight, they’re making St. Patrick’s Day cards,” added Shriver. “We consider ourselves a diversion to what is happening over at the hospital.”

Rosenbaum Family House is part of WVU Medicine while being a separate entity. WVU Medicine covers the expenses of the house, including facility costs, utilities and staff expenses. There is a staff of 12 that includes 5 full-time employees with the remainder being part-time. All other items including furnishings, linens, food, toiletries, etc., are provided by Rosenbaum through its fundraising efforts.

“There is a [QR Code driven] Amazon wish list. The wish list is updated continuously with things that our guests are looking for, asking for, things that we’re low on, anything that will brighten our guests’ days,” said Spurlock. The wish list can be accessed by visiting Rosenbaum’s Facebook page (Rosenbaum Family House) and viewing the #WishListWednesday posts. Every Wednesday, the most needed items are posted on Facebook, and followers are invited to help fill that need. The list typically contains items such as coffee and snacks to help guests get through the days. The list also contains general items, such as storage solutions, that will be helpful to the house as a whole. “Coffee is typically always on there because coffee is going 24 hours a day. But snacks are a huge thing. Breakfast bars, things like that that folks can grab on their way to the hospital. A lot of times, they don’t get back until visiting hours are over so they may put a few snacks in their bag and take them with them,” added Shriver.

Volunteer opportunities are also available for individuals or businesses that would like to support the efforts of Rosenbaum Family House. In addition to the Wish List, there are opportunities to Adopt-A-Day/Week that raises funds to cover the room balance for families who have exhausted their funds. Members of the community may also provide/sponsor a meal at the house, run a game night, provide a craft activity at the house or donate items such as artwork, books and equipment to make the house more comfortable and inviting for the guests. Traditional gifts such as cash and planned gifts are crucial to the continued operation of Rosenbaum Family House. Anyone wishing to make a gift of any kind to the house may contact Spurbeck at Joshua.spurbeck@wvumedicine.org or 304-598-6094.

Currently, the facility is undergoing a refresh. “We’re getting all new paint, we’re getting new carpeting, we’re getting new furniture because we’ve been in this house for 12 years and it’s time,” said Shriver.

Rosenbaum Family House is sponsoring Bluegrass in the Backwoods on Thursday, June 11, from 5 p.m. – 9 p.m. at White Oak 1838 in Morgantown. Tickets can be obtained by visiting give.wvu.edu/RFHBluegrass. More information will be posted on Facebook soon and on Rosenbaum Family House’s new website when it is launched in the coming weeks.

“We’re looking for folks who love bluegrass music and will come to Morgantown and support us,” concluded Shriver.

In conclusion, Shriver invited all Rotarians and members of the community to stop and visit Rosenbaum Family House any time and take a tour of the facility. More information about Rosenbaum Family House can be found at https://www.rosenbaumfamilyhouse.com/ or on Facebook (Rosenbaum Family House).

Rotary is a global network of 1.4 million neighbors, friends, leaders and problem-solvers who see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change – across the globe, in their communities, and in themselves. Visit www.Rotary.org to learn more about Rotary International, visit the club’s Facebook page – Rotary Club of Elkins – or contact 2025-2026 club president Phillips Kolsun at phillipskolsun@gmail.com for more information about the Rotary Club of Elkins.