Bethesda Community Clinic opening Free and Low-Cost Healthcare Clinic In Cherokee County
Free and Low-Cost Healthcare Clinic Opening In Cherokee County
What would you do if you lost your ability to pay for health insurance? Suddenly, you would have to choose between buying groceries or school supplies and going to the doctor. If you have a chronic illness like diabetes, high cholesterol, or high blood pressure, this can be a life threatening problem. Chronic diseases such as these, along with obesity and breathing-related disorders stemming from smoking, cause 70% of the medical issues that land people in the emergency room. In the current economy, as many people are struggling to keep a roof over their head, trying to live with untreated illnesses only adds to their problems, mentally, physically, economically and spiritually. So what is the answer?
Bethesda Community Clinic (BCC) is the first and only free and low-cost healthcare clinic in Cherokee County. Having held two (2) free clinics at the Canton Homeless Shelter in March and April, BCC saw 90 patients in 6 hours at its first event. However, BCC wants to be a permanent healthcare home open six (6) days a week (which requires sufficient funding) for everyone who cannot afford to go to the doctor so they can receive regular checkups and health risk assessments, and prevent chronic illnesses from setting in or progressing.
The homeless are not the only ones who need an affordable healthcare home. Take Theresa DiStefano for example. Recently laid off, she lost her healthcare benefits and couldn’t find an affordable doctor to treat her for her ear infection and to sign her daughter’s school documentation so she could enroll. Theresa had previously made too much money to qualify for free care, but couldn’t afford even a $100 doctor’s visit, so she was caught in the system. She thought she would have to choose between getting her infection treated OR enrolling her daughter in school. Luckily, because of Bethesda Community Clinic, both issues were handled with compassion.
Then there is Lori, a small business owner with Type 2 diabetes who cannot get insurance because of her pre-existing condition, and cannot afford continual care for her chronic illness. Bill is a business owner who knows he has high blood pressure, but can’t afford a doctor’s visit to obtain medication. Finally, there are seniors in our community who have dental issues year round which Medicaid does not cover, and for which they cannot afford to have treated otherwise.
No one ever has to experience this again - IF the community joins together to support this local clinic that will offer weekday low-cost office visits, Saturday free office visits for those who qualify, dental care, and labs at cost. However, BCC is a non-profit COMMUNITY clinic, depending on volunteers and tax-deductible donations, working to obtain a permanent home in Cherokee County. That is why BCC needs your help.
BCC needs medical, administrative, custodial and prayer volunteers, fundraising partners, office and medical supplies and equipment, and donations to keep the doors open and the utilities paid. Your monthly tax-deductible donation of any size will help BCC make Cherokee County the place where everyone can receive the healthcare they need, regardless of their income. Go to http://BethesdaCommunityClinic.org to find out more, to sign up to find out when and where the Clinic will open, and to make a donation
