Depositphotos_167323942_l-2015

Thank you to Wear’s Valley Area Chamber of Commerce

WVCofCThe Wears Valley community came together November 24 to provide entertainment with a twist — an event that gave thanks at Thanksgiving, kicked off the Christmas season and benefited needy families as well as Mountain Hope Good Shepherd Clinic.

It was a great event in a close-knit community, and the Clinic would like to thank everyone who made it possible. Cove Creek RV Resort provided the setting for a traditional Thanksgiving meal of delicious food prepared by Pat and Steve Wright of The Wright Stuff Catering. Participants could pay for their own meal or, in the spirit of the event, provide one for a needy Wears Valley family.

A tree-lighting followed the meal to kick off Christmas in the Valley. Entertainment was provided by DJ Jeff and Side-By-Side Entertainment while a silent auction was conducted. Many generous local businesses and individuals donated auction items.

We would like to thank everyone who contributed in any way to the success of the event, especially the sponsors: Moose Creek Crossing, Integrity Pest Control, the William Knight Insurance Agency, Smoky Mountain Wedding and Party Barn, SmokiesCabin.com, GSM Outfitters LLC, Mountain Realty, The Wright Stuff, and last but not least, Wears Valley Chamber of Commerce, who organized the evening. A special thanks goes to Randy Robinson of the Chamber, who provided liaison with the Clinic.

Silent auction items were donated by GSM Outfitters, Wears Valley Armorer, Wright Stuff Catering,  Tom Lolio Property Management, Cove Creek RV Resort, Mtn Realty Group, Jim Eastin Photography, Side by Side Entertainment, Sky High Air Tours, Ripley’s Entertainment, TN State Bank, Smart Bank, Sky High Air Tours, Hank & Ginger Bretz, Smoky Mtn Wedding Barn, and Magi Quest.

Warm-hearted Wears Valley residents who attended, who bought dinners and auction items ensured the success of the evening.

The non-profit Clinic provides quality medical and dental care to local citizens with no health insurance. Currently, more than 20,000 patients are on our roll. A patient is charged an affordable amount per visit, though the actual cost of providing care during that visit is much more. Fundraisers such as the Wears Valley event  provide a wonderful bridge between what we charge and the cost to us of each patient visit.

The Clinic is grateful to everyone involved in this fun event. We wish you all a Merry Christmas and happy and healthy New Year.

Warm regards,

Ashley Sig

 

 

Ashley Burnette Justice

Director of Fund Development

Free Physicals Event at Mountain Hope Good Shepherd Clinic

More than 150 People Attend Free Physical Exams

SEVIERVILLE — A total of 158 patients received physical examinations at the Mountain Hope Good Shepherd Clinic health fair on Wednesday and Thursday last week.

Every six months or so, Mountain Hope, in conjunction with the James H. Quillen College of Medicine at East Tennessee State University, offers two days of free physicals to Sevier County residents and employees with no health insurance.  The 78 people seen on Thursday set a one-day record.

Patients received basic lab screening as well as thorough physical exams and discussions of their health history. Students of the College of Medicine, supervised by faculty, conducted the exams. Sevier County Health Department personnel also handed out and discussed information on health subjects with patients. Medical and other volunteers helped in various ways, from taking basic lab tests to handling paperwork.

“These are always busy days for Clinic staff,” said Ashley Burnette Justice, director of fund development. “We couldn’t do it without help from a wide variety of resources.”

For example, two local businesses provided lunches for the volunteers. Citizens National Bank and Great Smoky Mountain Catering Company went out of their way to provide food that volunteers  called more delicious than usual. In addition, SmartBank supplied bottled water for volunteers and for waiting patients.

Why do businesses contribute? Christina Ricci of Great Smoky Mountain Catering said that because of the services to the community that the Clinic offers, “It’s an honor to be a part of it.”

Volunteers who took part included Christina Adams, Natthew Arunthamakun, Jackie Burk, Kitty Coykendall, Jim Kayon,  Emma Kepka, Trudy Lodge, Grace Mikels, Sandy Moersdorf,  Hardik Patel, Carol Pierce-Barr, Shanae Rayfield, Patricia Richardson, Jerry Sandifur, Mackenzie Thomas and Corlis Williams.

The advantages of taking part in the clinic are numerous. For Clinic patients, it’s a free health check. For prospective patients, it’s an easy way to get on the Clinic’s rolls.  Usually, because of time constraints, the Clinic can take in only two new patients every day. Because the health fair participants have now had an exam and have filled out paperwork, they are automatically on the roll and can make an appointment whenever it’s needed. The benefit for ETSU students is that working at the Clinic gives them hands-on experience with real patients.

The non-profit Clinic offers quality medical and dental care to the county’s uninsured for a modest fee. The Clinic supplements these fees with several fund-raising strategies to ensure that the whole cost to the Clinic of each appointment is covered. There are now more than 20,000 patients of record. However, the demand for the Clinic’s medical and dental services still outstrips the number of appointments available.