Johns Island, SC, February 26, 2023 – Barrier Islands Free Medical Clinic is thrilled to announce that it has been selected as a recipient of a 2022 Bishop Gadsden Charitable Fund Grant, receiving an award of $130,500.
The generous gift from the Bishop Gadsden Episcopal Retirement Community will enhance Barrier Islands Free Medical Clinic’s commitment to the underserved population across the Lowcountry who are uninsured and in need of health care. Currently, the Clinic serves over 450 uninsured patients a month who live or work on Johns, James & Wadmalaw Islands, Folly Beach, Meggett, Ravenel, Hollywood or Walterboro, as well as those who serve the hospitality industry on West Ashley and the Charleston peninsula. The Clinic hopes to expand their free services to thousands more in need of medical attention across the Lowcountry, and continue to provide vaccination clinics to combat the spread of COVID-19 within vulnerable communities.
Clinic Director Brenda Falls states, “We are deeply thankful to all of the residents of Bishop Gadsden residents and team members who made this gift possible. Their support of our Clinic has been pivotal to our ability to ensure that hundreds of uninsured adults across the Lowcountry have access to consistent, high quality health care.”
The Clinic currently treats over 5,000 low income adults, the majority of who work full time but still do not have access to health insurance. Many working adults in our community often have to make the difficult choice between going to the doctor and paying for needed medications, putting food on the table or paying for rent. Typically, low income adults will forgo their medical needs to make ends meet. Thanks to over 140 volunteers and community support, Barrier Islands Free Medical Clinic has been able to provide over 55,000 free patient visits since opening the doors in 2008. Patients will benefit greatly from the renewed funding by Bishop Gadsden residents.
The Bishop Gadsden Charitable Fund, which began in 2018, allows residents and employee team members the opportunity to help residents in the Bishop Gadsden Community who require financial assistance as well as assist nonprofit organizations in the Charleston community, and has distributed with more than $2.7 million to Charleston area charitable organizations.
BIFMC depends solely on funding via grants and donations from the community to support operations at the 7-exam room facility off of Maybank Highway on Johns Island. Through a robust volunteer program, the Clinic is able to provide free comprehensive medical care to patients at no cost. The Clinic does not receive any state or federal funding and serves roughly 22% of the uninsured that live or work across the Barrier Islands community. Additional sources of revenue come from the Clinic’s annual fundraisers, including a Golf Invitational, Sporting Clays Tournament, and ‘Fashion for a Cause’ event. For details on how you can support or attend an upcoming event, visit www.bifmc.org.
BIFMC is grateful for the continued commitment and support of the Bishop Gadsden residents in their generosity, kindness, and volunteer efforts to support our mission.
If you would like to make a donation to the clinic to support free health care services for those who cannot afford health insurance, please visit www.bifmc.org.
About Barrier Islands Free Medical Clinic
Barrier Islands Free Medical Clinic is large 7-exam room free medical clinic located on Johns Island, SC, serving uninsured adults who live or work across the Barrier Islands and their Connecting Communities. Through the volunteer efforts of over 140 medical and administrative staff, the clinic has served over 55,000 free medical visits since 2008, treating over 5,000 adults across the Lowcountry. .
Barrier Islands Free Medical Clinic is a free clinic in Charleston, SC, that provides free medical care to uninsured adults. The Free Clinic serves adults with no health insurance living at or below 299 % of the Federal poverty level who live or work across the Barrier Islands and their Connecting Communities. You can sign up for our monthly e-news updates, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
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