The Free Clinics (TFC) provides quality healthcare for uninsured, low-income clients in Henderson and Polk Counties. There will be a Tryon reception, Sunday, Nov. 12, from 1:30 – 3:30 p.m. at Sunnydale, 334 South Trade Street, to update guests on TFC’s services and programs that serve Polk County residents.

The event is free, and there will be hors d’oeuvres and a beer and wine bar. The public is invited and RSVPs are encouraged by Nov. 3. The event is hosted by local residents Becky Collins and Joe Crowder, a member of TFC’s board of directors.

The Free Clinics, which provided 22,434 patient visits for 1,887 low-income, uninsured residents in its 2016-2017 fiscal year, delivers its services and programs through 23 clinical and community health programs and services, and the help of 177 healthcare partners and more than 270 clinical and nonclinical volunteers. TFC is a dynamic, innovative, award-winning community healthcare organization that provides $7.50 of healthcare for every $1 raised for our neighbors in need.

In Polk County, where 14 percent of the residents live in poverty and 20 percent of adults, 18–64, have no health insurance, TFC has been making a significant difference in the local healthcare environment since 2008. In 2016-17, TFC provided more than $1,000,000 in services and medical prescriptions to 174 Polk patients, and enabled access to specialty care and/or diagnostic services for 106 Polk County residents.

To RSVP or for more information contact Mary Patrick at 828-697-8422 or mpatrick@thefreeclinics.org.

Submitted by Jim Faucett