Dear Friends and Supporters,

October at Macon Volunteer Clinic has been full of ‘treats’ and a gratifying reflection of our community's values!

Christ Episcopal Church of Macon includes MVC as one of its official parish outreach ministries, and this October we were featured as its ‘Ministry of the Month’. This included bulletin and newsletter inserts describing MVC, as well as information posted in the church coffee room. Thank you, Christ Church!

Central Georgia Technical College has been an enduring supporter of MVC through its dental hygiene program. Many of its students acquire clinical hours by providing oral hygiene services for our patients. This month we welcomed Kelly Scruggs, the Instructor Program Chair for Dental Hygiene at CGTC, for an MVC site tour and conversation on our continued collaboration. Thank you, Kelly, for taking the time to visit us!

We are grateful to Navicent Health Foundation for including MVC in its most recent grant award cycle. The award is funding COVID-19 and Flu A/B test rapid kits, along with other vital point of care testing kits. These clinic essentials allow our volunteer providers to diagnose and treat in a single visit, thus expediting quality care for our patients. It was a pleasure to go to the Foundation offices to accept this gift in person and meet other community grant recipients as well.

Corporate United Way 2024 Campaigns are in full swing. MVC is a United Way partner agency, and we are often invited to speak at corporate campaign kick-off events. We were honored to speak to staff campaign leaders at Robins Financial Credit Union and Synovus Bank this month and share how their payroll deductions for United Way help remove barriers to healthcare and enhance health outcomes for our low income, working uninsured neighbors in Bibb and Twiggs counties.

Our 3^rd Annual ‘Called to Serve’ Ladies Tennis Tournament took place October 16^th, with men’s and women’s pickle ball added that evening. Kudos to MVC Board Member Keri Jones for her leadership in making this the most successful year ever! Over $19,000 after expenses was raised to fund our direct services. That represents 146 patient encounters at MVC! The generosity of our community sponsors and the enthusiasm of our registered players make this event both a friend raiser as well as fundraiser. Thank you!

October’s ‘grand finale’ at MVC was Halloween! Our amazing staff members brought back trick or treating – which ended with the 2020 pandemic – to the Ingleside Village. On Thursday, October 26, from 5-7 pm, merchants welcomed neighborhood children as they marched by in costume. The teddy bear clinic was open, and Bibb sheriffs provided friendly patrol. MVC’s offerings were healthy and we distributed eligibility and service information. Thank you Trish, and Julia for building community through this fun-filled neighborhood outreach event!

Lack of health insurance is the single greatest impediment to access to healthcare in the U.S. Uninsured people are less likely to receive medical care, more likely to die early, and more likely to have poor health status. Thank you for supporting our vital mission of fostering primary healthcare for low income, uninsured, working adults in our community. Because of your generosity, they have a medical home at Macon Volunteer Clinic.

Warmest regards,

Nancy White

Executive Director

MVC board member and tournament organizer Keri Jones inspires and thanks tournament players for their participation at 'Called to Serve'.

Tournament players eagerly wait for winners of door prizes to be drawn.

Men and women's pickleball mixed play added lots of fun to the evening portion of 'Called to Serve'.

We love showcasing our amazing volunteers! We fundraise year 'round so we can offer free primary care, dental, eye exams and medication assistance to eligible patients. Our volunteers donate their time and skills to compassionately serve our patients. This stretches the dollars we raise a long way towards the continuous delivery of free healthcare. Thank you to each and every volunteer whose time donated is priceless! We would like to highlight a few of our volunteers below and describe some of their activities this past month.

Mercer students Sami Lowinger and Reese Hood selected Macon Volunteer Clinic for their class service project this semester. We were so excited to receive their mental health wellness kits for our patients this month. Our patients are given a kit when they arrive to their appointments and are excited to take the kits home for use. We want to thank Sami and Reese for selecting MVC and for the mental health wellness kits!

Macon Volunteer Clinic takes each gift and transforms it into medical and dental care for low- income patients without insurance. Your support is instrumental to our mission of providing healthcare to neighbors in need. The physicians and donors who established MVC 20 years ago left behind a powerful legacy that endures today. We believe that planning for the legacy you will leave behind is important, so that your world impact lives on.

During October we recognize National Estate Planning Awareness Week. This awareness campaign is a reminder to ponder your legacy and whether you have a will documented. A will is more than just a legal document; it's a way to ensure your values and commitment to causes continue to thrive beyond your lifetime. A will ensures you leave a legacy larger than your own life and one that endures.

During National Estate Planning Awareness Week, I encourage you to secure your legacy to protect what matters to you. It may seem overwhelming, but all you need to do is inform the attorney preparing your will that you wish to benefit MVC in your estate. They can take it from there and discuss options for how a gift will be made to MVC after your death. That legacy will continue to provide, for years to come, medical care at MVC for low income, working adults without insurance.

Please reach out to your financial planner or attorney today and ensure that Macon Volunteer Clinic is recognized as a part of your legacy!

Julia Norman

Director of Development

478-755-1110

jnorman@maconvolunteerclinic.org

At Macon Volunteer Clinic, we believe in the power of compassion, community, and care. We share here a heartwarming story that exemplifies the incredible impact our dedicated volunteers and staff have on the lives of our patients.

Meet Sarah*, a remarkable patient who has touched our hearts with her unwavering determination to conquer asthma's challenges. Her journey to Macon Volunteer Clinic was not just a search for medical help but a quest for a place where she could feel understood, supported, and, most importantly, breathe easier.

For Sarah, living with asthma had often been a challenging and isolating experience. The fear of asthma attacks, the frustration of constant medication adjustments, and the financial burden of treatment weighed heavily on her. That's when she discovered Macon Volunteer Clinic, a place where individuals like her are not just patients but also part of an extended family.

Sarah's journey began with a warm welcome at our clinic's reception desk. From the first moment she stepped through the door, she felt the genuine care and concern of our volunteers. They listened attentively to her story and quickly connected her with one of our dedicated volunteer providers.

They worked closely with Sarah to create a personalized asthma management plan. They discussed lifestyle changes, medication adjustments, and breathing exercises that would help her regain control of her life. Sarah shared, "I felt like someone finally understood me, and I wasn't just another medical case."

Over time, Sarah's health improved, and so did her spirit. She found a support system in the dedicated volunteers who gave their time and expertise to her journey. Sarah is now not just breathing easier but also embracing life with a renewed sense of hope.

Stories like Sarah's remind us why we do what we do at Macon Volunteer Clinic. Every day, we strive to make a positive impact on the lives of our patients, offering them the care, understanding, and support they need to overcome their health challenges.

We extend our gratitude to our incredible team of volunteers, donors, and supporters, without whom stories like Sarah's would not be possible. Together, we are making a difference, one breath at a time.

If you'd like to get involved or learn more about our mission, please visit our website or reach out to us directly. We welcome your support in any form, whether it's time, resources, or simply sharing our story with others.

At Macon Volunteer Clinic, we're not just changing lives; we're creating a community where people like Sarah can breathe easier and thrive. Thank you for being a part of this beautiful journey.

Mara Beck

Operations Specialist

*Name changed for privacy

Ingleside Village Trick or Treat



Families were invited to Trick or Treat from businesses that make up Historic Ingleside Village on Oct 26th. Staff at MVC handed out bottled water, powerade, popcorn and fruit snacks along with information about MVC. We had great attendance and the Bibb County Sheriff's department was on hand to assist with traffic that evening. It was a fun, safe night for families to kick-off the Halloween season.

Macon Volunteer Clinic  |  376 Rogers Avenue, Macon, GA 31204

478-755-1110 | maconvolunteerclinic.org