In 2027, the Sanford Roger Maris Cancer Center will open the doors to the Peltier Lodge, a 28,400 square-foot cancer patient lodging facility made possible thanks entirely to philanthropy, including a visionary lead gift from the late Norma Peltier.
Located near the Roger Maris campus, the Peltier Lodge will serve as a home away from home for patients and their loved ones during treatment and throughout periods of outpatient care and monitoring. It will feature:
- Guest rooms for oncology patients and their caregivers, including our bone marrow transplant patients who are required to stay nearby for post-transplant care and monitoring
- Amenities for guests including shared kitchen and dining spaces, indoor and outdoor common areas for gathering, quiet spaces, a wellness room, laundry room and more
As construction progresses on the facility, important programming advancements are also happening inside, including the addition of the Lodge’s first official employee, Jeff Grieve, who joined the team a few months ago as Peltier Lodge manager, a position funded entirely through philanthropy.
We sat down with Jeff to learn more about him, his new role and what cancer patients and families can expect at the Peltier Lodge.
Before we check in on the Peltier Lodge, let’s check in with you. Tell us a little about yourself.
I grew up on a farm just north of Buffalo, North Dakota, about 40 miles west of Fargo. I graduated from North Dakota State University where I majored in music education.
Music has been a big part of my life and career. I taught music for about 28 years, both full-time and part-time. Before joining Sanford, I spent nine years with Schmitt Music as an educational representative traveling throughout eastern North Dakota and western Minnesota.
After two pretty tough winters of driving, I decided it was time to find something closer to home. That’s when I joined Sanford in May 2022 as a guest services representative. I really enjoyed the role because it gave me the opportunity to meet and interact with so many patients, families and visitors. Every day brought something different and I appreciated being able to help make someone’s experience a little better.
My experience in guest services has been great preparation for my new role as Peltier Lodge manager. A big part of both positions is making people feel welcome, listening to their needs and helping them feel comfortable.
What inspired you to pursue this new role?
I first heard about the Peltier Lodge project on Veterans Day. A woman named Norma Peltier was greeting people at the north entrance of our Broadway campus and was handing out free popcorn to anyone who wanted some. As I learned more about Norma, her volunteering and the many ways she has given back to others, I thought, “What an incredible gift she is giving to our community.”
When I learned more about the Peltier Lodge and the opportunity to be part of it, I felt that this role would be a natural fit for the things I enjoy most — welcoming people, getting to know them and helping to create a warm and comfortable place for patients and their families. I’m really looking forward to getting started and being part of the Peltier Lodge and everything it will mean to the people who stay there.
What does your average day entail now, while construction is underway? And, what do you anticipate an average day to look like once the Peltier Lodge opens?
Right now, my days involve a lot of meetings and planning. I’m getting to know the staff and teams who will be supporting the patients receiving treatment and staying at the Lodge.
Once the Peltier Lodge opens, I expect every day will be a little different. I’ll be welcoming guests, getting to know patients and their families, helping answer questions and making sure they have what they need to feel comfortable.
I’m looking forward to working closely with our staff and Roger Maris Cancer Center teams to make sure everything runs smoothly and that we create an environment where people feel welcomed, supported and at home while they’re here.
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Most of all, I want to be present and available for our guests. Sometimes that may mean helping with something they need and other times it may simply mean sitting down and listening.
Peltier Lodge manager
How do you think the Peltier Lodge will contribute to a cancer patient’s healing and recovery process?
I believe the Peltier Lodge will provide much more than just a place to stay. For cancer patients and their families, having a comfortable, welcoming place close to their care can take away some of the stress and uncertainty that come with treatment.
I believe emotional support is an important part of the healing process. When someone is facing cancer, having a safe place where they feel welcomed, heard and cared for can help ease some of the emotional burden they are carrying.
The Peltier Lodge will give patients and their families an opportunity to rest, spend time together and feel supported while they focus on their treatment and recovery. I also hope the Peltier Lodge will be a place where people can connect with others, share experiences if they choose or simply have some quiet time together.
As the Lodge Manager, I want to help create an environment where every guest feels valued and cared for. If I can help someone feel a little less alone, a little more hopeful or simply put a smile on their face, I believe that can be an important part of their overall healing journey
What would you say to donors who have supported this project or are considering supporting this project?
To everyone who has supported the Peltier Lodge, I want to say thank you. I’ve had the opportunity to meet so many patients and families during my time at Sanford, and I’ve seen how much a warm smile, a kind word or simply listening can mean when someone is going through a difficult time.
That’s why the Peltier Lodge means so much to me. I know there will be people who will walk through our doors who are scared, tired or worried about what comes next. Because of the generosity of our donors, they will have a comfortable place to stay and be with their family where they can feel welcomed and cared for.
I think about Norma Peltier and the way she has given so much of herself to others. Her example really touched me, and I see the Peltier Lodge as an extension of that same spirit of giving.
If you are considering supporting the Peltier Lodge, I hope you’ll think about the individuals and families who will benefit from it. You’re not just giving to a building — you’re giving someone a place to feel at home during a very difficult chapter of their life.
To everyone who has helped make the Peltier Lodge possible, thank you for believing in what this place can mean to patients and their families.
Give for Hope
If you’re inspired by this story and want to support our work to advance cancer care, make a gift today.
100% of your gift will support the Peltier Lodge, a state-of-the-art lodging facility designed to provide cancer patients and their families with a home away from home during treatment and throughout their outpatient care and monitoring.
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