The Doorways

Experiencing a medical crisis is challenging enough. Add to that the stress and expense of needing treatment in a bigger city away from the comforts of home and it can really be a hardship. For 40 years, Richmond has been fortunate to have The Doorways – the largest donation-based lodging of its kind in the country – to help make a stressful time more manageable for out-of-town patients and their families.

“The Doorways is a guest house for patients and families who have to travel to Richmond for medical care,” explains Stacy Brinkley, who has served as president and CEO for 10 years. “If you can imagine having to be away from home for a week, two weeks, six weeks or months at a time – we provide patients that safe, comfortable place to stay while they are getting treatment, and that provides peace of mind while they are going through specialized medical care.”

Founded in 1983 by the Women’s Auxiliary of the Medical College of Virginia (MCV), the facility was originally called the Hospital Hospitality House of Richmond. It was established in a 28-bed brownstone known as the Zeigler House, located at the corner of 10th and Marshall Streets, just a block-and-a-half away from the hospital. The building formerly served as a dormitory for Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) nursing students.  

Unique for its time, the concept was well received and so successful that soon a larger space was needed. In 1994, with financial help from MCV Foundation, VCU Medical Center, and many generous community donors, the Hospitality House was moved to a former Days Inn Hotel located at 612 East Marshall Street in downtown Richmond.   

In its new location, the Hospitality House was able to provide 117 private rooms with baths and shared facilities, including fully stocked kitchens, pantries, family dining rooms, TV lounges, a library, a chapel, a fitness room, 24-hour-a-day laundry, plus dedicated floors for pediatric and transplant guests. All guests must be referred by their attending healthcare facility and are asked to help offset lodging costs with a $15 per night donation but are never turned away for inability to pay. The average length of stay is six-and-a-half nights, but 40% of guests are housed for longer than a month.

Rebranded “The Doorways” in 2015, the nonprofit became a member of TowneBank in 2016 when they opened a savings account. Over time, the relationship has grown to where Towne now handles the full banking relationship for the organization.

“When we were looking to potentially switch banking institutions, we really wanted someone who was aligned with what we do,” Stacy explains. “We really wanted more of a partnership.”

Shawn Walker, The Doorways’ CFO, explains, “As the banking industry has changed, we were looking for a more hometown feel, and TowneBank fit that bill perfectly. They were local, they were responsive, we had personal contacts and we felt that would be our working relationship on a daily basis if we moved to Towne.”

The Doorways is a home away from home for patients and families coming from out-of-town for healthcare. 

Commercial banker Simeon Harris serves as The Doorways’ trusted financial partner and provides guidance as they carry out their services to the community. “Simeon is very involved in our mission,” says Shawn. “He’s always looking for ways to improve. If there are things that would make sense for us, Simeon is always the first one to bring it to the table. He attends our special events, he knows what we do, he knows our business, and he adjusts services to meet those needs.” 

“Being their banker means that I am part of The Doorways team,” says Simeon. “It is extremely rewarding to be one degree of separation from such an important mission.” 

Since its inception, The Doorways has housed more than 215,000 guests and provided more than 1.3 million nights of lodging. While 79% of guests are Virginia residents, the rest come from every state in the nation and from around the world. With an annual budget of just over $3 million, The Doorways currently has a staff of 23 full-time and 12 part-time employees, with more than 500 volunteers who do everything from making dinner and cleaning the building to writing thank you notes. Now, that’s what we call southern hospitality. 

For more information, visit TheDoorways.org.