WNC Bridge recently welcomed Whitney Wiggins to our team as manager of Rathbun House. As the only hospitality house in Western North Carolina, Rathbun House offers families from outside the local area a place of comfort and respite while their loved ones receive care at Asheville area healthcare facilities. We hope you take a moment to learn more about Whitney and her essential role at Rathbun House.

Tell us about your role with Rathbun House.
As the manager, I keep up with the day-to-day responsibilities of Rathbun House as well as the needs of our amazing guests.

Where are you from originally?
The City of Brotherly Love -Philadelphia, PA.

What does a typical day look like for you?
I have learned there is no typical day at Rathbun House! The one constant is engaging with Rathbun’s guests, volunteers, and employees. One project I am particularly excited about is revving up our community outreach efforts to neighboring counties. Rathbun House provides a caring and supportive environment where families and caregivers can stay at no charge for up to 14 days while loved ones receive treatment at Asheville area healthcare facilities. This house is often considered a lifesaver for people who do not live near Asheville.

What has surprised you most about working at Rathbun House?
Rathbun House sits on a beautiful piece of property surrounded by woods, which can lead to surprise visits from Yogi and Boo Boo. Occasionally, these two black bears appear on our grounds (luckily, no picnic baskets have gone missing).

If you could go anywhere on your next vacation, where would it be and why?
I want to experience the spiritual side of traveling and learn from people/animals who can teach me about myself and the world around us, Giraffe Manor in Nairobi, Kenya.