Free Clinic of Meridian receives ‘Citizen of the Year’ award
This year, the Meridian Civitan Club’s Citizen of the Year Award goes to the Free Clinic of Meridian.
“It’s wonderful to have our volunteers recognized for the wonderful work that they do,” said Brenda Hiatt, the clinic’s board president.
Located on Poplar Springs Drive, the clinic was honored Tuesday, with Hiatt accepting the award on the clinic’s behalf. Each year the civitans recognize an organization or person who has contributed to the community in significant ways. Servicing adults ages 19 through 64 who have no insurance and are not eligible for Medicaid or Medicare, the clinic provides health care to those with limited options.
“Here at the free clinic, the A Healthier You program is a great plus to the organization because they are supportive of the chronically ill patients with diabetes, high blood pressure, cholesterol - those main things main things that plague us today,” said Eilease Roske, the assistant director of the program.
The clinic is totally funded by private donations and grants. It’s run by volunteers and has only two part-time employees.
“They are the heart of the organization. If it were not for our volunteers, we would not be able to serve the community as we’ve been able to do,” said Hiatt.
The clinic is looking for both medical and non-medical volunteers to continue to meet the needs of the uninsured in the community. So please submit an application if you’re interested.
“We need providers, nurse practitioners, physicians. We have a great need for nurses right now. We need people to work in the lab; we do our own lab draws here. We need front desk help, checking in patients, making phone calls, there’s always something to do,” said Celeste Ford, a nurse who serves as the clinic manager.
Volunteer applications are available on the free clinic’s website. Those wishing to apply for services at the clinic must provide a photo id, a social security number, and proof of income.
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