May 21st, 2013
Justin’s Beach House gives a time and place of joy and peace for families with cancer, all ages…it is open year-round. If you have traveled in the past on Rt. 26 (Garfield Pkwy.) in Bethany Beach, you might have seen the big Adirondack chair…can’t miss it. Location? 844 Garfield Parkway. Telephone? 302-261-2510. Website? http://www.justinjennings.org.
I visited Justin’s Beach House last year. My photos are from that visit. This home is like no other. I mentioned that when I wrote my original post. I still feel the same. It was an emotional tour, and at the same time you know that this home brings so much joy and peace even if it is for a few days or a week.
If you are interested in staying at Justin’s Beach House, please visit the website and read about it…http://www.justinjennings.org/about-us. Your stay is free of charge, but there are procedures to be followed.
Some of your questions might be answered by visiting http://www.justinjennings.org/faq.
The Mission since the beginning has been the same; “to support and maintain a home in the Bethany Beach area where families with cancer can have a place of respite and enjoy some fun family time. It is a place of joy and peace at the Beach”.
The story behind Justin’s Beach House is that of a son who was taken from his family way too soon. And, his name was Justin.
The house was built in partnership with Contractors For a Cause. Local builders that helped the dream come true.
The home is big with plenty of bedrooms and rooms. All wheelchair accessible.
It does have an elevator.
The kitchen is big and the dining room has a large table for plenty of guests.
Throughout the home there are rooms for relaxation and watching t.v.
The house has beach chairs and beach toys.
And, it does take money to run. Justin’s Beach House has a few fundraising events throughout the year, but the biggest one is the Justin’s Beach House Memorial Day Weekend 5/k Run/3k Walk. It will be on Saturday, 5/27 at 7:30 a.m. in Bethany Beach. $25 to pre-register and $30 the day of the race. You can visit http://www.justinjennings.org/5k-run-walk for complete details.
There will be a festive post-race party on the Bethany Beach Boardwalk, Tech Tee-Shirts for All pre-registerred participants, awesome Awards for overall, masters and age groupers, free goodie bags, free pre-race kiddie dash (no registration and no tee-shirts provided).
This event will be a sellout! Have a good One!!
February 6th, 2012
I had seen it in the past year; just the outside, though. Traveling on Rt. 26 can be a trip. It can get so congested. It is a direct route to the town of Bethany Beach, Delaware. That aqua Adirondack chair kept catching my attention. I thought someone liked them as much as I did. Little did I know that behind that chair, the beautiful home behind it had a story to tell.
Out of sadness has come peace and somewhat joy to the Jennings Family. Justin Jennings was a beloved son, full of life and looking towards the future. Justin was stricken with cancer and at the age of 21, in 2000, he passed away. A life taken way too soon.
Some of us might sink into despair; others make that lemonade out of the lemons life throws at you. The Jennings family chose the latter route.
The Justin Jennings Foundation was developed. The help of friends, volunteers, and the community has been so important; a link to their success. Enter Contractors for A Cause, which are contractors of the local area of Bethany Beach and Ocean View, who are giving back to the community that supports them. CFAC is a non-profit organization. They hold annual events and scholarships to help out local organizations and young adults. For info. please visit www.contractorsforacause.org.
Contractors for A Cause built this beautiful home. So many people donated in numerous ways; appliances, furniture, cleaning supplies, beach chairs, you name it.
I really do consider myself so lucky to have been able to tour Justin’s Beach House. Nothing prepares you for the feelings of emotion as you enter the home. The best word to describe it is “peaceful”.
The main purpose of this home is to give someone; a child, a young adult, a parent, grandparent, basically anyone, for that matter, a time at the beach where they can relax with family and enjoy themselves for a week or a few days. To be able to put aside their worries, hospitals and doctors; experience the intoxicating salt air, beach, sand, and sun.
2011 was the first year when families started to visit Justin’s Beach House. 22 families took advantage of this gift. So far, as of this writing, about 12 families are scheduled to arrive this year, the youngest visitor with cancer will be about 2 when she visits our Delaware beaches.
Justin’s Beach House is located at 844 Garfield Parkway (Rt. 26), Bethany Beach, DE 19930. Tel. 302-261-2510. Website? www.justinjennings.org. Take a virtual tour of the house.
There is an easy application process and a few requirements, as well. For the application all you have to do is visit the website, where everything you need to know is clearly explained. Other important requirements are that the person applying for Justin’s Beach House has to be going through treatment at present, or out of treatment for a year. You have to be able to get to Bethany Beach, and a $250 security deposit is required but will be returned after the stay. No food is provided due to diet restrictions. Plenty of bottled water will be at the house.
Justin’s Beach House has 3 floors and sleeps 12. The whole house is wheelchair accessible; the parking lot has a wide ramp for easier access. It also has an elevator. Decks on each floor of the house.
As you enter the house the first thing you see is Justin’s picture with his dog. The house is painted in light colors. As I mentioned before, the majority of the furnishings have been donated.
A room is called Justin’s room with some of his furniture.
Another room is called Elizabeth’s room, donated by Elizabeth’s family.
Every floor has comfortable chairs, sofas and equipped with small refrigerators to make it even easier.
The little needlepoint pictures caught my attention; activities for every day of the week. Kids get all excited about them; that’s what they should do on that particular day.
In the garage you will find, bikes, beach chairs, and sand pails; that’s all you need at the beach, anyway.
Justin’s Beach House has fundraising events through the year. By visiting the website you will see what is coming up. On February 25th, Delaware Seashore Parrot Head Club’s 4th Tropical Ice Breaker from 4 p.m. until 9 p.m. at Mango Mikes at 97 Garfield Parkway, Bethany Beach. Great music by Tropical Soul from Central PA, and food. Please call for ticket information 302-379-7601.
Save the date for the JWJ Annual Memorial Day 5K in Bethany Beach – Info. is on the website, as well.
Justin’s Beach House is located near 3 hospitals. Beebe Medical Center in Lewes, Delaware, www.beebemed.org. In Berlin, Maryland, Atlantic General Hospital, www.atlanticgeneral.org. And, in Salisbury, Maryland, Peninsula Regional Medical Center, www.peninsula.org.
A look at a table; what were those books? Amazing to see the effect the stay at Justin’s Beach House has given its visitors. These were albums sent by families to this home in thanks for a wonderful time. Their week at the beach, their smiles…their escape, even if it was for a little while. The home is making its own memories….
And…what about that lemonade? It is sweeter and more refreshing than ever….talk to you later.
Note: Many thanks to Kathy who took time to show me one amazing home!!
September 27th, 2011
It is official, the name of The Wellness Community of Delaware has been changed to Cancer Support Community Delaware. You know how it is; it takes some time for the new name to take so for the purposes of this post it can still be called The Wellness Community of Delaware.
Of course, their mission is most important. “It is a statewide non-profit organization whose mission is to ensure that all people impacted by cancer are empowered by knowledge, strengthened by action, and sustained by community”
All programs are free of charge. For more information, please visit http://www.wellnessdelaware.org.
Their location, in our Delaware Beaches, is on the Beebe Health Campus on Rt. 24 (John J. Williams Highway) in the Medical Arts Building.
An upcoming event is called A Pink Affair to Remember 2011….and, we are all invited to attend.
Date: Friday, October 21st
Time: 11:00 a.m.
Location: Epworth United Methodist Church, 19285 Holland Glade Rd., Rehoboth, Delaware.
Tickets: $30.00 It is going to be a fashionable afternoon. Included with your ticket is a delicious brunch and fashion show. Chinese and Silent Auctions, as well. You can also accessorize yourself by shopping until you drop.
This fundraising event will be benefitting The Wellness Community of Delaware, and Justin’s Beach House in Bethany Beach.
I wrote a post with pictures on Justin’s Beach House on May 16, 2011. If you would like to see it just click on the month of May and scroll down to the date.
If you have traveled on Rt. 26 in Bethany you might have noticed the over sized, light blue, Adirondack chair. This foundation came out of a sad event for this family….you can read all about it by visiting http://www.justinjennings.org.
When this happened they did not sit back, they took action and a foundation took place with the help of a community. It helps “families” with cancer. Getting away from it all in the Quiet Resort of Bethany Beach.
How to purchase tickets? Please e-mail Apinkaffair@gmail.com and let them know the number of tickets that you would like to purchase. Details on your ticket purchase and a reservation confirmation will be e-mailed back to you.
No e-mail? Please call Cathi Bost at 302-644-9095.
They are still looking for donations of costume jewelry, hats, handbags, scarves, belts, shawls and gloves. Please contact Susan Pomerantz at 302-339-6024 or Leslie McDonald at Lesliemcdonald@tarpower.net for pickup.
Note: You can find on Facebook The Wellness Community-DE.
Have a great day….talk to you later….
May 16th, 2011
I have to start by saying that I don’t know the Jennings family. But, I had seen this house going up on Rt. 26 in Bethany Beach. For many years I used to live, practically, across the street from where Justin’s Beach House is located.
The blue Adirondack chair? I thought somebody liked these laid back chairs as much as I did. Justin’s Beach House is about 1/2 mile from the center of town and the beach.
I was told that I should stop and see this house. Its story is very well expressed in their website; http://www.justinjennings.org It is Justin’s story; the developing of the brain cancer that ultimately would claim his young life. And, the parents who sprung into action, by starting The Justin W. Jennings Foundation.
Bethany Beach is known as a quiet resort. Also known to be a family oriented coastal town. I cannot imagine a better place to have a home for families with cancer where they can spend time together in peace. Getting away from it all.
This house could not have taken place without the tremendous help of Contractors for a Cause. This organization is made up of local contractors who want to give back to the community that support them. They are based in the Bethany Beach and Ocean View area.
If you would like to learn more about what they do, please visit http://www.contractorsforacause.org.
There are some events already in the calendar for 2011. Check http://www.justinjennings.org.
Saturday, May 28th is the Justin’s Beach House Memorial 5k Run – Walk in Bethany Beach. You can get all the information for this event on the above mentioned website.
Wednesday, June 8th – Ravens Roost Annual Golf Tournament at Ocean City Golf & Country Club. $100 will get you the cart and dinner. Cash bar will be available, as well. Shotgun is at 1:00 p.m. If you do not play golf but would like to attend, then, the cost would be $30. Again, please visit the website for all pertinent information.
The website is very informative. You will find the application process and the calendar of available dates for Justin’s Beach House. You can meet the Board, read the history and also check the donation information.
Thank you to Justin’s family who in their grief started this foundation so that in his name they could help others.
Please note that the first guests at Justin’s Beach House welcomed 2011 in this beautiful home.
Talk to you later….
Comments Off on Justin’s Beach House, Memorial Day Weekend, 5k Run/3k Walk, Fundraising, Saturday, May 25th, 7:30 a.m. Bethany Beach, Delaware Beaches