Houston County volunteer clinic receives grant to stay open

The executive director of the clinic says the possible closure would affect many people who can't cover healthcare bills.  

HOUSTON COUNTY, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Just weeks ago, the Houston County Volunteer Medical Clinic was facing the harsh reality of a possible closure, but that reality has changed thanks to a $24,000 grant from the Community Foundation of Central Georgia.

Executive director of the Clinic Patricia Butler says the possible closure would have affected many people who can’t cover healthcare bills.  

“Our patients that come here do not have to pay for anything,” Butler said. “Once they are in here through their financial eligibility, so in knowing they would have to find somewhere else to go and have to pay for their care is heartbreaking.”

She says if the clinic had closed, many patients would have lost their basic healthcare. 

“Right now, we have about 150 patients that we would have to let go. And most places they would go, they would have to pay. Which is hard, when they are working part-time, two part-times jobs, some of them three; just to make ends meet. And health care is something they would normally put on the back burner in order to survive”, said Butler. 

Butler says this grant will cover operational costs like vaccines, equipment and consultation fees.   

“It provides them with a medical home where they don’t have to run around and try to find someone to see them,” Butler said. “It’s not easy for indigent patients to get the healthcare they need without cost. Our patients are working residents of the county; they work, they pay taxes, they vote, so why can’t we care for them.”

And although the clinic is grateful for the grant, Butler says there still under budget. 

“And to receive grants for working adults, it’s hard,” she added. “Just like everyone else, funding is drying up, so we have to really work hard. This grant along with another private donation that we received, will get us to our fundraiser, which is supported by the city of Warner Robins, and we’re very grateful to them for that.”

Darius Maynard, the director of programs for the Community Foundation of Central Georgia, tells 41NBC the grant was given due to the positive impact the clinic has on the individuals who are doing the best they can but are still coming up short due to other financial obligations.