Temple Community Free Clinic volunteers also know that Santa doesn’t bring medical care in his sleigh. They have pitched in even at holiday time to work on its biggest fundraiser of the year. The annual Caring Ball will be on Feb. 14 at the Frank Mayborn Civic and Convention Center, with dinner by Classic Catering, dancing and a sparkling array of auction and gift items.
Even as everyone else is decking their halls and fa-la-la-ing, members of Altrusa International Inc. of Temple and Bell County Medical Alliance have been busily preparing for the gala to raise more than $150,000 for the Free Clinic. Volunteers are still collecting donations of gifts, trips and art objects for the live and silent auctions.
Co-chairs this year are Barbara Sorge and Sharon Tomlinson. Other committee chairs are Mary Black Pearson, Chris Scherer and Sandi Wood, decorations and staging; Debbie Mabry and Paulette Whitfield, silent auction; Leslie Walsingham and Ashley Simonton, silent auction; Janna Bonnett, Christi Lichota, Mary Kylberg, Connie Matthews and Karen Lairmore, finance; Vicki May, publicity; Paula Conti, facilities; Lisa Joy, graphics; Heidi Couchman, Connie Minnick and Ginger Tolbert, support.
Invitations are going out in the mail just after the Yule holidays, and about 600 are expected to attend the Valentine-themed “Straight from the Heart” affair. Volunteers are still collecting goods, art items, gifts or services for the live or silent auctions. Connie and Arlon Grenier of Classic Catering have been working on the catering menu for several months.
The Free Clinic, 1905 Curtis B. Elliott Dr., is a gift that keeps on giving all year long. Volunteers know that just a little goes a long way: a $50 donation will cover three months of insulin for one patient; 1,200 insulin syringes; five blood glucose meters; or 10 boxes of diabetic testing strips.
Opened in October 1992, it serves local workers who are not eligible for health coverage, such as Medicare, Medicaid or indigent care. Often, these employees cannot afford health coverage or health insurance is not offered.
The community-based organization provides free health care to the county’s working poor, qualified uninsured and those with overwhelming medical debt. Included in its mission is concern for patients’ health education and physical care along with medical education and research, social services and pastoral care.
Most patients have chronic health problems, such as high blood pressure, diabetes and heart problems. The clinic’s goal is to keep employees healthy and in the workforce collecting paychecks. Physicians, nurses, dentists and other health-care professionals donate their time; Altrusans, the Bell Medical Alliance and other community supporters volunteer in the office and care coordinators.
Connie Minnick at the Temple Community Free Clinic has more information about getting invitations or donating auction items.
