Katie Krell
reporter2@greenepublishing.com
The Shepherd's Hands Free Health Clinic moved to First Baptist Church (FBC) of Madison on Tuesday, June 22. The Madison clinic was previously located at St. Mary's Episcopal Church. Based out of Live Oak, it is one of three branches in the Suwannee River Valley area.
Shepherd's Hands is a free clinic for adults ages 18 to 64 who do not have any type of health insurance and who meet certain income requirements. The Madison location is open on the evening of the fourth Tuesday in each month, with the next date being Tuesday, July 27. Registration for the clinic is held day-of from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Those looking to receive medical attention must complete an application with a trained volunteer at the clinic to verify their eligibility.
Each clinic is staffed by around 20 volunteers. Many of the volunteers are medical doctors, physician's assistants, advanced registered nurse practitioners, registered nurses, licensed practical nurses and licensed pharmacists. Others have been trained by the Florida Department of Health, and many are retired educators, healthcare workers and social workers. They also have volunteers who are able to direct patients to resources the clinic cannot provide and bilingual translators for non-English speaking patients. The clinic is equipped to perform many services, such as basic x-rays, blood sugar testing and heart monitoring.
The clinic has grown out of its space at St. Mary's Episcopal Church. The move to FBC Madison will hopefully provide the much needed space to allow the clinic the room to continue to expand. “We are so excited to partner with Shepherd's Hands of the Suwannee Valley,” commented Pastor Gabe Krell of FBC Madison. “Jesus Himself went around healing people and then proclaiming truth to them. We hope to be a part of imitating that and to earn the opportunity in the hearts and minds of the people we serve to share the message of a God that adores them so much He gave His Son for their salvation and their peace.”
The Madison clinic has been at St. Mary's Episcopal Church since its conception on Monday, Jan. 16, 2017. Along with the move, the clinic is also welcoming a new director, Pam Laubaugh as the current director, Melva Morfaw, is retiring.
The new location is at FBC Madison, at 134 SW Meeting Ave., in Madison. For more information, contact FBC Madison at (850) 973-2547.