benefit will directly help uninsured neighbors in need receive access to free primary care
When you or a family member wake up sick, what do you do? Most of us call our doctor. But what if you don’t have a doctor? What if you already owe the hospital for a past emergency room visit? What if you miss one more day of work, with the possibility of being fired or loss of wages to cover bills? “This is reality for so many people in our community,” shared Joel Henderson, CEO of Volunteers in Medicine Chattanooga. “Much thanks to the visionary work of our organization’s founders, and the Chattanooga collaborative ‘Can Do and Volunteer Spirit’ the VIM clinic continues to provide FREE medical care over the past 20 years.”
To date VIM’s primary care clinic has provided well over 82,000 patient visits valued at greater than $29 million at clinic rates and $114 million at emergency room rates. Along with $20 million in dispensed medications for patient prescription assistance and $6 Million in donated labs.
“Generosity for the common good is what really brings people together,” expressed Henderson. This year’s 2nd annual For the Good’ luncheon benefit is being planned for April 23, with event proceeds to directly help uninsured neighbors in need, receive access to free primary care.
With 2025 being the organizations’ 20th year anniversary, the event planning committee have included several fun, celebratory activities for participants along with an awards recognition to honor crucial volunteers. “Our model as well relies on the gracious and dedicated support of our 100 plus volunteers who’ve provided 170,000 volunteer hours since the clinic doors opened in 2005,” stated Henderson. “One of these crucial volunteer servant leaders is VIM’s founder Nancy P. Franks, who championed the organization’s mission as President until 2014.” Nancy is the second distinguished recipient of VIM Chattanooga’s Robert E. Bowers MD Volunteer Leadership Service Legacy Award.
Additional awards and recognitions are in the plans for the event to celebrate a VIM patient’s story of hope and healing along with a twenty plus year organizational donor. “Much thanks to the support by many VIM’s patients never receive a bill for programs and services provided. However, it is costly to operate the medical clinic,” noted Henderson.
“VIM expresses gratitude and appreciation to this year’s For the Good underwriter sponsors; BlueCross BlueShield of TN Community Trust, the Erlanger and CHI Memorial Hospitals and the Journey Health and First Horizon Foundations. As well as our Access to Care sponsors Davis Wealth Partners and the Medical Foundation of Chattanooga.”
The Volunteers in Medicine free care clinic is located at 5705 Marlin Road, Suite 1400 in Chattanooga and is currently accepting new patients. VIM provides primary and preventative health care to financially eligible adults (aged 19-64), who reside in Hamilton and surrounding counties in Tennessee and North Georgia who are 100% uninsured.
To learn more about the programs and services provided by Volunteers in Medicine, Chattanooga, call 423-855-8220 or visit www.vim-chatt.org or stop by the clinic during operating hours, Monday through Wednesday from 9 AM to 4 PM and Thursday from 9 AM to 1 PM.
