Below is information on the Variety House written by: Sharon

After you secure a date at The Variety House (VH) you will need to ask the secretary in charge of your care to put you on the list. Not all that are normally on the list will be able to stay. You will contact Sharon 2 days in advance of your arrival to ask if you have a room or not. It is important they you make reservations at a local hotel as well, just in case you can't stay at VH.

If she says you can stay, then you will either take a taxi or drive to VH, the gentleman (Denis) will be alerted to the time you arrive. Try to arrive as close to the estimated time as possible. He will instruct you to go over to the hospital cashier and pay for the number of nights you think you will be staying. The cost is $25 per night which helps to pay Denis, and it also helps with maintenance on the house.

The VH is across the road from the hospital. If coming from the Long Island Expressway (LIE) there will be the first entrance to the hospital on the right hand side, TVH will be on the left hand side directly across from that first entrance which has a bus stop on the sidewalk. It is a 2 level brick home with limited parking in front. Park in front, and ring the basement doorbell.

The house has 2 floors, each floor has 3 bedrooms, one with a private bath, and the other two share one bath. Each floor also has a kitchen and living room. Each bedroom has two twin beds and a TV, as does the living room. There is a small dining room on each floor. In the kitchen you will find various foods, ask Denis if someone staying at the house has left that food and if it is for anyone to consume. You will be expected to clean up after yourself. Denis will empty the garbage. There is a refrigerator, coffee pot, toaster, and microwave in each kitchen.

There will be a folder full of restaurants that are close by, or you can order in. I haven't had anything bad yet. Denis will tell you where this list is, it is normally in the kitchen.

Upstairs you will find a washer and dryer along with everything you had downstairs. The washer and dryer are for finer clothing, we are asked not to wash heavy clothing.

Smoking is allowed in back of the VH. We are also asked to sign a sheet when we come and go, that way others know where we are and when we are expected back. Most of the time, we or our care givers are at the hospital.

Sheets and towels are provided for us. I always travel with my own pillow, and I suggest you do the same thing.

While staying at the VH, please follow the few rules that are in place. Do not eat or drink other than in the kitchen or dining room. It not only allows us an affordable place to stay, it puts us in touch with others that are in our same shoes. It also gives our caregivers someone to talk to that understands what they are going through. If we abuse, the VH may not always be there for us.