WS Chronicle

On Nov. 14, Community Care Center celebrated 17 years of “Paying it Forward” with its annual fundraiser dinner and program at Novant Forsyth Medical Center Conference Center.  The mistress of ceremonies was Wanda Starke, reporter and anchor with WXII-TV 12 News.

Over 180 people listened to an inspiring speech, “Why Your Support is Important to Our Community Clinic,” by Randy Jordan, the executive director of the N.C. Association of Free and Charitable Clinics.

Two patients added their own stories of desperation, and how they found people at Community Care Center who cared and provided the help they needed, without judgment.  One patient had lost a leg to diabetes and the other had been in a wheelchair from rheumatoid arthritis. These two patients currently lead active, healthy lives and expressed their deep gratitude to Community Care Center. The audience also heard testimonials from two longtime volunteers who told passionate stories of why they continue to volunteer at the center and how gratified they feel after helping patients at the clinic.

These stories are not unique.  Over the past 17 years, Community Care Center has cared for more than 22,000 patients, providing over $140,000 million in healthcare services and medicines. Patients have come from every walk of life.  Some had advanced degrees and earned large salaries before losing employment.  Others have always struggled to get by.  Regardless of background, race or ethnicity they all have found a caring, healing environment at Community Care Center.

Community Care Center’s mission is to provide access to compassionate, high quality health care services to medically uninsured and underserved who reside in Forsyth, Stokes or Davie Counties and meet the eligibility requirements.

The “Pay It Forward” vision of the 20 retired physicians who agreed to volunteer their services 17 years ago would not have taken the clinic very far if their vision had not resonated with others – hundreds of supporting volunteers, physicians and dentists still in active practice, hospitals and those who have supported the clinic financially.

Community Care Center for Forsyth County Inc. is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization and a United Way Agency.  It is located at 2135 New Walkertown Road in Winston-Salem, N.C. Its website is:  www.cccforsyth.org. 

Patient applicants are screened on Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons, without appointment, between 1 and 4 p.m.  Anyone interested in volunteer opportunities should contact the Community Care Center at 336-760-1234.