Hope Lodge Baltimore

08/31/2026

Jeff Leonard and his wife LouAnn, who are from Virginia Beach – a four and a half hour drive from Baltimore – were among the first guests to stay at the new Hope Lodge Baltimore while he received two months of radiation therapy at Johns Hopkins for a recurrence of prostate cancer. Jeff, who is a custom home builder and knows great workmanship when he sees it, said “Hope Lodge is phenomenal. It’s way better than a hotel.”

It wasn’t just the physical environment that impressed him and his wife LouAnn who accompanied him as his caregiver. “It’s an extremely welcoming place. The staff are so friendly and on top of things. Everything you need is here to make your stay super easy. The kitchen is literally unbelievable. They’ve got a giant laundry and a big outdoor area that’s super relaxing.” LouAnn added, “We never expected anything like this. You can have as much privacy or company as you want here. We haven’t had to ask the staff for anything because everything is here.”

Jeff said, “It’s incredible to have a free place to stay like this. Both Hope Lodge and the medical care here are so much better than we could have gotten at home." The couple also enjoyed Baltimore City. They attended several Orioles games at nearby Camden Yards, to which they decided to walk, as well as visiting Lexington Market, just a couple blocks away from Hope Lodge.

08/24/2026

George Oehler, an Air Force veteran, and his wife Tracy, a teacher, who live in Dover, Delaware were worried about where they would stay and the cost when they learned that George needed seven weeks of outpatient treatment following surgery at Johns Hopkins for a rare tonsil cancer. He had already undergone two surgeries for benign brain tumors that strained their family budget. However, their social worker told them not to worry, and subsequently they found out that they qualified for free lodging at the newly expanded, reimagined Hope Lodge Baltimore.

“We’ve told our pastors at church and our friends and neighbors what a blessing Hope Lodge is,” said Tracy. “The lodge is very beautiful, and the staff are amazing.” Tracy and George immediately experienced the fellowship of other guests there. “When we arrived, we were greeted by a group of men in the lobby who were also guests and who helped us out during our stay,” said Tracy. “They welcomed George, patted him on his back, and said, ‘We’re here for you.’

“I don’t know how we got so lucky,” she added. “We discovered that everything we needed was there – blankets, laundry, a community pantry with ingredients or snacks that we might have been missing, a powerful blender for the shakes I made for George since he couldn’t eat, books, games, and a large, beautiful kitchen where people gather and get to know each other. Companies and organizations hosted dinners for us. There were activities like chair yoga and craft night. When we returned to the lodge each day following treatment, it didn’t matter how hard the day had been. It’s peaceful at Hope Lodge. The front desk staff say, ‘Welcome back.’ It feels like you’re not living in a stranger’s house.

“We want to find a way to give back,” said Tracy. “In the evenings we gathered with other guests, and we all talked about how the American Cancer Society is in our hearts. You see commercials on TV about the American Cancer Society’s mission, but you never think you’re the one who’s going to need it.”

08/04/2026

We are so grateful for the beautiful people, companies, and organizations who pour their TLC into hosting and serving wonderful community dinners for our Hope Lodge guests. Thank you Maryland Proton Treatment Center, Heritage / MileOne Autogroup, and BFG Financial Advisors for your recent hospitality that brings our guests together and nourishes body and soul after a long day of treatment on their cancer journeys! If any organization or group would like to volunteer to serve dinner, contact [email protected] or [email protected].

07/28/2026

Our guests are settled comfortably into our new Hope Lodge, but we already are running short on everyday supplies. Please help stock our cupboards and community pantry by donating. Needed items include paper towels, toilet paper, snacks, and drinks. Please donate from our Amazon Wish List at: https://a.co/j0DQflf. Thank you very much for your generosity!
With appreciation, The Hope Lodge Baltimore Staff

07/13/2026

Donna and Ray Bolton of Western Maryland are keeping an optimistic attitude about Donna’s breast cancer journey and counting the new Hope Lodge Baltimore as one of their blessings. “It’s like a resort for sick people. I feel cherished here at Hope Lodge,” said Donna. “The Hope Lodge staff are so kind and loving. They feel like family.”

When Donna was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2024, she was treated at Sibley Memorial Hospital in Washington, D.C., which is part of the Johns Hopkins Health System. However, the round trip from home to D.C. was wearying.
Donna’s cancer recurred this year. “We couldn’t continue driving back and forth from Alleghany County to DC for treatment,” she said. “Instead, I came to Baltimore to Johns Hopkins. I don’t know what I’d do if there wasn’t a Hope Lodge here. It’s a lifesaver.” For the Boltons, who both have health challenges that prevent them from working, the cost of a long hotel stay is out of the question.

Donna also praises Hope Lodge’s amenities including, she said, “the free shuttle that takes me to treatment, beautiful guest rooms with comfortable beds, private spaces around the lodge in which we can relax, and the immaculate kitchen and dining area.” She and Ray are doing their best to stay healthy by exercising daily on the treadmill in the lodge’s state-of-the-art fitness room and preparing their own nutritious meals in the community kitchen.

07/08/2026

Christine Marchessault travelled all the way from Oregon to Baltimore to be treated at the Maryland Proton Treatment Center for her breast cancer not only because her radiation oncologist recommended that proton treatment is the best option for her cancer but also because of the free lodging at Baltimore Hope Lodge.

“No one budgets for cancer,” said Christine, who lives a very healthy lifestyle and was stunned by the diagnosis. “We have three teens at home whom I help support along with my amazing husband. There is no proton treatment center in Oregon. The free housing at Hope Lodge is making this treatment possible. Without it, I would have had to choose a different kind of therapy that would be less effective. I am so grateful to the American Cancer Society."

Christine, who was diagnosed with is inflammatory triple negative breast cancer (iTNBC) last year at age 45 and has gone through extensive treatment in Oregon, arrived in time to be one of the first guests at the newly opened, expanded Baltimore Hope Lodge. Her mother Debbie Winston, who lives in Alaska, joined her as her caregiver.

They are both impressed with Hope Lodge, the comfort of the new facility, and the fellowship and support they receive here. “I’ve made a conscious decision to be positive about my cancer. I work in the medical field, and I’ve seen the difference in outcomes when patients are positive. I have two goals to keep my eyes on after recovery – going to medical school and running a half-marathon.”

Hope Lodge Baltimore is pleased to be able to host Christine and provide a state-of-the-art environment that can help all our guests be as positive as possible throughout their stays and journeys.

06/23/2026

Powerful WMAR-2 News Baltimore TV report about our new American Cancer Society Hope Lodge and what it means to guests who need to travel long distances for lifesaving treatment. Thank you Kelly Swoope for your powerful storytelling!

An Oregon woman undergoing cancer treatment in Baltimore is staying free at the newly renovated Hope Lodge, one of 31 American Cancer Society facilities nationwide.

06/22/2026

Tom and Cindy Santone have needed to stay at Hope Lodge Baltimore numerous times over the past year as Tom is going through extensive treatment for a rare blood cancer at the University of Maryland Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer. They were kind enough to share their story with WJZ-TV | CBS Baltimore that broadcast live from our new Hope Lodge on June 17.

The Santones, who live in York, PA, said that the one and a half hour drive to treatment several times a week for months would have been nerve-wracking and exhausting if it wasn’t for Hope Lodge, where they have needed to stay for up to two months at a time. “There’s no place like home, but Hope Lodge is pretty close. It’s a godsend,” said Tom who has been through five cycles of chemotherapy and a stem cell transplant and faces more treatment ahead.

The Santones are among the first guests at the new, reimagined Hope Lodge, but they were very fond of the old Hope Lodge as well. “We love how bright, modern, and spacious the new lodge is, but the hospitality hasn’t changed. The staff is just as wonderful, cheerful, and helpful as always. It’s a blessing so we don’t have to keep going back and forth to York,” said Cindy.

Tom added, gratefully, that the new beds at Hope Lodge are incredibly comfortable and just the right height for guests like him to get in and out of bed carefully. The new beds are just one of many amenities and conveniences at the reimagined Hope Lodge, which includes a workout room, large garden courtyard, laundry facilities, personalized guest storage in the expansive kitchen, and more!
The fellowship of Hope Lodge is appreciated by the Santones as well. “I love that we still stay in touch with other guests we met during our stays who are going through the same type of journey we are. We text back and forth a lot.”

06/17/2026

For Cancer Survivors Month, WJZ-TV | CBS Baltimore's 9 a.m. show live broadcast from our new Hope Lodge featuring Therese Gustitis, Hope Lodge GM, and wonderful guests who shared the story of their stay. Thank you Janay Reece WJZ - CBS News Baltimore!

The new, expanded American Cancer Society Hope Lodge in Baltimore i...

06/10/2026

We are very grateful to the volunteers who helped us move into our new Hope Lodge. This included a team from APGFCU that organized and packed supplies, proving that, “Many hands make light work!” The connection with APGFCU runs deep; for many years, APGFCU has supported and sponsored For Life of Harford County. For Mannone, APGFCU chief consumer lending officer, volunteering at Hope Lodge was a full-circle moment. Years ago, her mother, who had a rare sinus cancer, stayed at a Hope Lodge in Gainesville for eight weeks during treatment. Robyn’s parents lived in Leesburg, Florida, two and a half hours from treatment which created “logistical challenges,” said Robyn, who referred them to Hope Lodge because of her knowledge from Relay. “Thanks to Hope Lodge, my parents could focus on my mother getting better without driving five hours daily to treatment. As a caregiver, my father was able to relax in the common gathering areas of Hope Lodge while my mother rested after treatment. He felt like it was home. It was fabulous for them.”

“The new Hope Lodge Baltimore is clean, crisp, welcoming, and refreshing. It’s a whole new chapter of life for Hope Lodge. I’m very impressed with the convenient location close to University of Maryland, Johns Hopkins Medicine, Maryland Proton Treatment Center and Mercy Medical Center (Baltimore, Maryland),” said Robyn, who places great importance on giving back to the community. She was recently recognized as one of The Daily Record's 2026 Top 100 Women for her volunteerism and accomplishments.