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Health Care

Free Services Will Be Available Aug. 14 At Evangel Life Center

The Capital Times :: METRO :: 1C

Monday, August 2, 2004
By Amelia Buragas The Capital Times

On Aug. 14, the churches are sponsoring a Touched Twice Clinic that will provide free health services to all who need them. There will be free physical examinations, chiropractic adjustments, eye examinations and dental care. There will also be live entertainment and a free lunch.

Sam Potter, the lead pastor of Spirit Winds, said the churches have become aware of the growing numbers of local people without health insurance and although they cannot solve the problem, "Christians and churches should at least be part of the solution."

Brenda Click of House of Hope is supplying lunch for the clinic and said she looks forward to not only this clinic, but the second and third clinics, which she said will only be more successful as the word spreads.

"We believe in our hearts that we need to do these things," Click said. "We see the need."

Rex Wegner, associate pastor of Capitoland Christian Center, said churches often focus on work in third-world countries, forgetting that help is needed closer to home.

"Sometimes we're so busy working outside our community," Wegner said, "it is easy to overlook what is going on here."

"It's like a five-hour mission trip and you don't have to leave the city," Pat Smith, co-pastor of New Life Christian Center, added.

Dr. Chris Kammer of the Center for Cosmetic Dentistry was one of the first medical professionals to commit to the clinic. Kammer said there will be six or seven people from his clinic volunteering their time, including three dentists.

"It's an honor for the clinic and doctors to contribute," Kammer said. "It is better to meet need now rather than wait for a government mandate."

So far, eight doctors have committed to working for the clinic and there are another 30 who have been contacted.

Clinic participants will fill out a form with basic contact information and check off their three biggest needs on a list of services being provided. There will not be a financial screening. Potter said their hope is to fulfill everyone's basic needs.

Also, although the clinic's secondary goal is to meet spiritual needs, care will be given regardless of denomination or religious beliefs.

"If they have a church and are happy, that's fine," Potter said. "If they are Muslim and not interested in a Christian following up with them, we'll honor that."

Click said that she hopes people will take away with them more than one day of care. There will also be pamphlets and information available to connect participants to other organizations and free clinics in the city.

"We want to get to know these people and fill their needs," Click said.

Amazingly, the clinic is being run with zero budget. Everyone involved has volunteered his or her time. Even the printing costs for fliers was donated. The organizers say this is a key element to being able to pull the event together in about four months.

"Fund raising is usually the single biggest obstacle to getting work done in the community," Fred Grossenbach of the Jericho Project said.

The Touched Twice Clinic will be Saturday, Aug. 14, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Evangel Life Center, 4402 Femrite Drive. For more information or for transportation call 320-0446.

There are still many openings for clinic volunteers. Medical professionals should contact Steve Fine at 225-7314 or jobsandhousingpartners@charter.net.

Free training sessions will be held for other volunteers on Aug. 7 at 9 a.m.; Aug. 10 at 7 p.m.; or Aug. 12 at 7 p.m. The sessions, which will last about an hour, will be held at the Evangel Life Center, 4402 Femrite Drive.

E-mail: aburagas@madison.com

"There's no food pantry here in Madison" for pets, Schloemer said. "It is very, very rare that they have food for pets."

Schloemer first called her veterinarian, Dr. Pam Mache of Cats Here, Dogs There Veterinary Clinic on South Fish Hatchery Road, who supplied her with dry food and meat on two occasions.

She then called MadCat Pet Supplies on Mineral Point Road and it furnished her with four 20-pound bags of Science Diet.

"That's how I came about the food pantry because of my own experiences," said Schloemer, who has worked for the state Department of Transportation for 22 years.

"It's pretty rough when you don't have money and things come up," said Schloemer, whose financial woes started with a car accident and some other problems she'd rather not have publicized.

A few months ago, when she got back on her feet financially, she worked out a deal with two local pet stores to donate food, which in turn Schloemer brings every Friday to House of Hope church at 1017 Applegate Road, which is one block east of the Hummer dealership on the Beltline.

Through donations from MadCat Pet Supplies and Pet World Warehouse on the Beltline, Schloemer is able to procure some 250 pounds - or a station wagon full - of dog and cat food each week.

George Tourville, the stock manager at Pet World Warehouse, said there are a half dozen different pet houses or foundations that come to the store looking for old food or surplus food. The store gives out $500 to $1,000 worth of extra food once or twice a week.

"We are a store that is moving product and we like to have room in our warehouse so if there is expired food piling up, we like to get rid of it as soon as possible."

Most of the food goes to feed stray or homeless animals, not to people who are feeding pets.

"There are a great number of animals out there that need homes - people have cast them aside - and somebody's got to take care of them," Tourville said.

Schloemer's project is unique in that she concentrates on people who are struggling to feed their pets.

"The pet food is going very fast. I can't even tell you," said Stu Click, who with his wife, Brenda Click, serves as pastor at the House of Hope.

The Clicks incorporated the free pet food into their regular food pantry, which is available to families on Friday nights and serves 1,500 families a month.

"I think it's pretty unique. Sharynn has a heart for animals so I think it is a real blessing here," Stu Click said.

When he tells people about the recent pet food addition, people usually say, "What?" "But it makes a lot of sense, it really does," he said.

People food too: Click said people would be surprised if they discovered the types of people who take advantage of the church's pantry.

"You can't really judge a book by its cover. You never know what people are going through. We all go through hard times. I've gone through hard times," he said.

It's difficult for some people to admit they are in need, Click said. "It's a humbling experience to have to go to a food pantry. We try for it not to be humbling here."

The church goes out in the community every week with its food trucks and lately people have been waiting in line at the food sites, he said.

Every Saturday at noon for the last two years, the Clicks have gone to Lincoln Elementary School on the city's south side to deliver food. Recently they served 120 households at that site alone. They bring pet food along to the site, but a limited amount.

The Clicks also go to Allied Drive with their mobile pantry (at noon the first and third Tuesday of the month on Jenewein Road). Starting Aug. 7, they're going to branch out to Northport Drive on the first and third Saturdays of the month.

For more information, call 441-1500.

Those who are served at Allied won't be getting pet food just yet, but the Clicks intend to eventually start including pet food with their loads.

People who come to the church at 6 p.m. Friday also get a hot meal. In addition, they find live music and an area of free clothing.

"It's a lot of fun. There's a pretty relaxed atmosphere. We try to make it a big family," Click said.

The pantry is not like an emergency food pantry, so people can choose their own items. They get 20 pounds of food, including canned goods, noodles, produce, meats, cheese and peanut butter.

Click said they go through about 100,000 pounds of food a month. He's amazed at the need in the community. "It's sad."

My God Shall Supply All My Needs…

…Abundance that will overflow to many needy families!

 **Remember, House of Hope is a Non-Profit organization; all proceeds go to feeding, clothing the poor, and the needs of the truck maintenance at this point.  When we get a facility, some will go for that.  We are also a Wisconsin Corp, called House of Hope, Inc., and approved by the Federal IRS as an official “501<c>3” organization.  See the approval on our www site.  This means all your contributions may be tax deductible.

All money donations are recorded, and a statement will be emailed or mailed prior to Jan 15, 2003 for your records.  

If you have given clothing, or other items and wish a statement emailed or mailed to you, please email your address to stuart@hopecity.org and a generalization of the items you have given.

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Last modified: August 20, 2004