Genesis
The Good Samaritan Center has its origin with Sara Allerkamp, R.N., who founded the Free Clinic in 1992. After going on several medical mission trips to Mexico, she began thinking of the needy in the Hill Country, who have little medical care. She organized the Free Clinic in Fredericksburg with help from volunteer doctors and nurses and the Hill Country Memorial Hospital.
The Free Clinic operated one day a week for 10 years, relying on volunteer doctors and nurses. In June of 2002 it became the foundation of the Fredericksburg Community Health Center, which was incorporated as a 501(c)(3) entity. The Fredericksburg Community Health Center continued to operate the free clinic, while funding was sought to build and open a dedicated health center—The Good Samaritan Center. By June of 2003, the Center had raised $1.3 million through the donations of individuals, churches and organizations within the Hill Country, and grants from area foundations. On June 1st, 2004 the Good Samaritan Center opened the doors of its new 12,000 square foot facility at 140 Industrial Loop in Fredericksburg.
Continued Growth
With the construction of the Good Samaritan Center, health care could be provided four days a week by both paid and volunteer staff. In the first 16 months of operation the Good Samaritan Center served 3038 low income patients (this does not include patients of the specialty clinics). In the same period, the center provided medication with a retail value of over $200,000 at no charge to clients. After opening, the center has continued to expand its services, adding a diabetes clinic, a dental clinic and educational services.
The Fredericksburg Rotary Dental Clinic was added to the Good Samaritan Center in November of 2004 and was largely equipped by donations from two local Rotary clubs. Dental health is often one of the most neglected aspects of health care among low-income families. Currently the Dental Clinic operates two days a week and provides dental education, fillings, cleanings, and extractions. Since opening, the clinic has provided dental care to 275 patients.
The Diabetes Care Program was established to prevent complications of diabetes through education, testing, eye examinations, and one-to-one counseling. The clinic is currently able to give each diabetic client a glucometer with an initial supply of one month’s test strips for home blood sugar testing. Through education and one-on-one counseling with our certified diabetes educator, doctors and nurses, the clinic strives to help diabetic clients identify and make the lifestyle changes neccessary to achieve better control of their diabetes and maintain better physical, spiritual and mental health. The center currently counts 107 patients on its registry.
The Good Samaritan Center is primarily a volunteer effort. In the first 16 months of operation, over 11,000 hours were contributed by both medical and non-medical volunteers. Without the support of these wonderful volunteers the center could not function. Their contribution of time equates to a donation of over $180,000 in labor. We maintain a small paid staff, which works with the volunteers to meet the center’s needs.
The Future
As the center has grown, we realize that the need is as great as we thought, if not greater. To meet these needs the Center is looking to add more operating hours and continue to nurture partnerships with the excellent medical community, hospitals, spiritual orgnizations and social agencies in the Hill Country.