History of the Hospice Caring Cottage

The Cottage is located in beautiful Bohrer Park in Gaithersburg. Attractively landscaped gardens surround this red brick building that overlooks the park and pond. The Cottage is comfortably furnished like a home, with an atmosphere that is welcoming and conducive to quiet reflection as well as to group activities.

All Hospice Caring staff and their offices are located at The Cottage. In addition, The Cottage serves as a meeting place for Hospice Caring bereavement groups, book discussion groups, retreats, and staff and board meetings. The Cottage is also a resource for other non-profit organizations that occasionally need a place to meet. The Cottage is a tribute to all those served by Hospice Caring in the past and is a living legacy and testament to the community's attitude towards caring for one another in the hospice tradition.

How the Cottage became the home of Hospice Caring

A rambler, located on the Summit Hall Turf Farm property (now Bohrer Park), was provided by the City of Gaithersburg for the sum of $1 per year. In 2001, thanks to a $50,000 bond bill sponsored by Senator Jennie Forehand and Delegate Michael Gordon in the Maryland State Legislature and a matching $50,000 bill through County Executive Doug Duncan and the Montgomery County Council, The Cottage became a reality.

Extensive renovations were required. With grants and room sponsorships, in-kind contributions and many, many volunteer hours, The Cottage was officially opened in 2002. It has evolved to become a community resource.

The Cottage is a comfortable space that is full of life and compassion. Its uniqueness lies in the fact that what was once an abandoned house is now a gathering place for many purposes, reminding us that end-of-life matters can be positive and life-affirming.


Contributors to the Hospice Caring Cottage

When the Cottage was established in 2000, Hospice Caring, Inc. received much-needed assistance from the joint efforts of the county and state, local businesses and foundations, and private citizens.

During part of its history, Hospice Caring had staff in different locations. Building an addition to the Cottage accommodated the administrative staff at the same location with the Patient & Family and Bereavement staff. This extension to the Cottage enabled us to achieve better communication and lower our cost of operation.

We are grateful for the following groups who committed to assist us on this renovation project:

The Carl M. Freeman Foundation of Olney:  $100,000

The Philip Graham Foundation:  $25,000 grant

The Home Builders Care Foundation

The Association of Builders and Contractors of Maryland

Mitchell and Best Builders

For more information,
call 301-869-HOPE (4673)

Hospice Caring, Inc.

Holding Hands and Healing Hearts