By Joseph Knoop
Trinity Free Clinic in Carmel will hold an open house in celebration of its 15-year anniversary the weekend of Oct. 11-12.
The clinic will allow visitors to see how the clinic operates and ask questions of the staff, the entirety of which is comprised of 639 active volunteers. Such volunteers include licensed dentists, nurses and pharmacists.
Trinity Free Clinic will have staff, volunteers, and board members present throughout the day to answer questions and give tours.
Executive Director Dina Ferchmin said she hopes the open house will encourage Carmel residents to volunteer their own services.
“It adds to the dignity of our patients,” Ferchmin said. “A lot of our patients aren’t used to being treated so nicely.”
The clinic has seen its fair share of unique patients, including refugees from the Middle East and the physically disabled, Ferchmin added.
Two months ago, the clinic received a woman with a detached retina, causing partial blindness in one eye. Without insurance, the woman’s only hope was the unlikely services of a volunteer surgeon. With the clinic’s assistance, coupled with a generous donation and a willing surgeon, the woman was able to receive a low-cost surgery, restoring her eyesight.
The patient went on to open a baked goods store and regularly provides the clinic with food, Ferchmin said.
“One of our biggest goals is to encourage community awareness,” Medical Operations Director Cindy Love said. “You don’t have to go overseas to serve on mission trips. There are people in your own backyard that can benefit.”
Trinity Free Clinic, at 1045 West 146th St. in Carmel, also provides such specialty services as a women’s clinic and pediatric care.
The open house will be held from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Oct. 11 and from 9 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Oct.12.
For more information, visit trinityfreeclinic.org.
The Trinity Free Clinic is hosting a 5K Run for Wellness at 9 a.m. Oct. 18, to help raise funds for the clinic.
