A home away from home: HCA Healthcare Foundation supports Hope Lodge® communities serving cancer patients and their caregivers

A cancer diagnosis can disrupt nearly every aspect of daily life. It may mean traveling for treatment, sleeping in an unfamiliar city and stepping away from everyday routines. As some patients and caregivers manage the emotional weight of care apart from the people and places that bring them comfort, having a consistent source of stability and support can make all the difference. That is why the American Cancer Society Hope Lodge® is so important.

The Hope Lodge offers more than a place to stay. It provides a welcoming environment where guests can rest between appointments, share meals, connect with others who understand what they are going through, and enjoy, even briefly, the comforts of home.

The HCA Healthcare Foundation is helping strengthen that experience through a $240,000 grant to the American Cancer Society. The funding supports six Hope Lodge® communities across the U.S. in Charleston, South Carolina; Nashville, Tennessee; Houston, Texas; Kansas City, Missouri; Salt Lake City, Utah; and Tampa, Florida. Each city’s local Hope Lodge helps ease the burden of cancer treatment and recovery by providing free lodging and supportive community spaces for patients and their caregivers.

Free lodging helps patients focus on healing

For many people undergoing cancer treatment, the journey extends far beyond the hospital or clinic. According to the American Cancer Society, more than 200,000 people each year travel upwards of 40 miles to receive the treatment they need. Traveling for care can mean time away from home, added expenses and difficult decisions about transportation, lodging and daily meals — all while managing the physical and emotional demands of treatment.

For decades, the American Cancer Society has helped patients and caregivers navigate these challenges through research, advocacy, patient services and community-based programs like Hope Lodge. Hope Lodge guests are given access to private rooms, communal kitchens and shared gathering spaces, allowing them to stay close to treatment while connecting with others navigating similar experiences.

Lodging is just one of the practical needs that can influence a patient’s health and quality of life. According to the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, ACS’s advocacy affiliate, food insecurity affects nearly one in five people with cancer, limiting access to the nutrient-rich foods that can support treatment, recovery and overall well-being. Cancer treatment may increase the body’s nutritional demands, while side effects such as fatigue, nausea and loss of appetite can make healthy eating more difficult. At times, a patient simply may not have the time or energy to prepare meals for themselves, and the costs associated with treatment, travel and temporary lodging can create additional financial strain.

How the HCA Healthcare Foundation is supporting Hope Lodge communities

Through the Healthier Tomorrow Fund, the HCA Healthcare Foundation invests in community partnerships designed to address critical needs and reduce barriers to care. The $240,000 investment will support six Hope Lodge communities across the U.S. in strengthening nutrition security and fostering whole-person well-being. Building on a longstanding partnership between the HCA Healthcare Foundation and the American Cancer Society, this investment helps provide nutritious meals, educational resources and opportunities for connection while also creating meaningful ways for HCA Healthcare colleagues to engage with and serve patients and families in their local communities.

As of March 2026, the HCA Healthcare Foundation has provided more $1.6 million in funding to support the American Cancer Society’s mission, helping expand access to resources, education, patient services and community-based programs. In addition to financial support, HCA Healthcare colleagues have contributed board service and thousands of volunteer hours to programs that help meet the practical and emotional needs of patients and their families.

Strengthening nutrition security for patients and families

Meals are an especially meaningful part of the healing process and support. A shared meal can offer nourishment, routine and connection — things that often feel disrupted during treatment. Through the HCA Healthcare Foundation’s support, the Hope Lodge is helping provide patients and caregivers with nutritious meals and opportunities to learn more about healthy eating during cancer care.

The Healthier Tomorrow Fund investment reinforces Hope Lodge’s ongoing efforts to promote community health and well-being through nutrition-focused programs and resources. Across participating locations, guests can access fully equipped communal kitchens, volunteer-prepared meals, community pantries, nutrition education and innovative programs designed to make healthy eating more accessible during treatment. These efforts not only help meet nutritional needs but also promote connection, learning and support among patients and caregivers.

Each Hope Lodge community is using the funding in ways that reflect local needs while advancing shared goals around nutrition security, volunteer engagement and patient well-being:

• Salt Lake City, Utah: The American Cancer Society Hope Lodge® in Salt Lake City is developing a year-round Meals of Hope partnership that will engage HCA Healthcare colleagues, hospital dietitians and community storytelling efforts centered on patient nutrition and well-being.

• Kansas City, Missouri: At The American Cancer Society Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation Hope Lodge® in Kansas City, HCA Healthcare colleagues and dietitians will help lead volunteer meal programs, cooking demonstrations and nutrition education opportunities for guests.
• Nashville, Tennessee: The American Cancer Society Memorial Foundation Hope Lodge® in Nashville is using grant funding to expand volunteer engagement opportunities, with a focus on recurring nutrition-based programs and community involvement.

• Charleston, South Carolina: The American Cancer Society Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation Hope Lodge® in Charleston is expanding its Dining with Hope program and launching EMPOWER initiatives designed to enhance nutrition education and overall patient wellness.
• Tampa, Florida: The American Cancer Society Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation Hope Lodge® in Tampa is building on the launch of ACS EMPOWER programming through guest lectures, health education sessions and volunteer-led cooking and meal service opportunities.

• Houston, Texas: The American Cancer Society Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation Hope Lodge® in Houston is strengthening collaboration with HCA Healthcare leaders through partnership planning, board engagement and future community initiatives focused on patient well-being and nutrition programming.

Did you know? More than 130,000 oncology patients receive care each year through HCA Healthcare’s Sarah Cannon Cancer Network, which connects multidisciplinary experts across the U.S. and U.K. to help deliver coordinated, patient-centered cancer care.