The Community Impact Committee initiated our Anniversary Connections with past grantees in 2021-2022. We recently visited Matthews Free Medical Clinic. Amy Carr, the executive director, was enthusiastic about the changes since the 2017 Women’s Impact Fund grant which provided for a nurse practitioner position.

She credits the WIF grant for all the amazing things taking place over the past five years. Amy explained that MFMC has been fortunate to build out its staff. The clinical staff, originally at three, doubled with the addition of a nurse practitioner, a social worker, and a licensed clinical social worker.

Physicians and others are all volunteers, some working there for up to 15 years. The clinic refers to surgeons from Physicians Reach-Out Mecklenburg, Union, and Chapel Hill. Cancer patients are referred to Levine Cancer Center. The Team collaborates with all patients recovering from procedures. Recently, dental care was added to their offerings.

In the five years since the WIF grant and another round of fundraising, their caseload has doubled to serve 1239 patients in 2021. The patients are low-income and without insurance from 14 to 64 years of age. The social worker introduces the patient to Medicare.

In addition to the wide spectrum of medical services offered, MFMC now has a “One Time Emergency Visit” at which patients see an MD, LCSW, and social worker all on the same day.

MFMC’s goal is securing funding for a “Mobile Unit,” to serve primarily Union County patients who have no public transportation.

Please visit the MFMC website at mattewsfmc.org for detailed information on staff, board, sponsors, and volunteer opportunities.