The Moore Free Care Clinic ...celebrating 15 years !

Here is a picture of my  "boss" Tony Price.  As most of you long time blogger friends know I was in on the opening of the Free Care Clinic back in 2004 and I've seen and lived through the struggles and victories that we've faced over the years. The Clinic was designed to serve the 15% of our counties adults who are under the poverty level and uninsured. It's been a life-saver for so many of them.   

I literally can't believe that it's been 15 years.   I remember so clearly the first three years when the  Clinic was getting started.  We were housed in one room (approx. 20x20’) at the local Health Dept.  It was incredibly short of space and we literally tripped over each other... not to mention that there was no privacy for the volunteer  doctors and their patients.  

4 years after we opened the doors we were able to move to the spacious offices that we now occupy. This came about with the aid of grant funding and the incredible generosity of the owners of a very large warehouse.  Local developers John O'Malley and his son Jim lease the space to the Clinic for $1.00 a year !

I can't remember the date when Tony came on board but I do remember the year that we almost went under for lack of funding.  Luckily Tony saved us from that and his leadership is an inspiration. He is a great fund raiser but is not above handling all the menial tasks too.   Now plans are going forward to double our space from 3,000 ft. to 7,500 ft.  

Yikes … I go in twice a week now to computerize the paper work that gets labeled and put in the patient's charts.  I can barely keep up with it and can't imagine how it will be after the expansion.   I may just have to  "hire" a secretary !