Newsletter & Annual Report

Like the rest of the nation, COVID-19 turned Healing Hands’ world upside down, but unlike most places, we are still open. A patient who faced cancer, diabetes, or heart disease in mid-February must still receive timely access to treatment.

A big thank you and congratulations to our 2017 Jean Ferguson Poole Volunteers of the Year for their tremendous help with obtaining medications for our patients! Together with their help we have given over $25,000,000 worth of free medications!

Healing Hands was founded in 1997 by the mission committee of First Presbyterian Church in Bristol, TN. After reading a news article about the alarming number of people in the United States who live without insurance, the committee was inspired to start a clinic to provide much needed services to these people.

Healing Hands Health Center was chosen as a host site for “Smile Power Week”, a program of Delta Dental of Tennessee. Our Children’s Dental Day was held on Monday, June 12th, with 66 children in attendance. Each child received a free dental check-up, a draw string backpack, a t-shirt, and dental kit.

On Friday, April 21, 2017, we hosted our 2nd annual FREE Dental Day for Veterans. We provided over 120 dental patient visits and played host to more than 50 volunteers!

David moved to the Tri-Cities area when his mother was placed in a nursing home in Kingsport two years ago. Moving to a small city like Bristol presented certain challenges, and he found himself having to move from a management position to a server position to gain employment.

A big thank you to Linda Wilkinson, CEO of the Virginia Association of Free and Charitable Clinics, and Kathryn Zapach, Director of Member Support for VAFCC, for attending our Board retreat and providing valuable information about growing our ministry and continuing to meet the needs in our region.

Congratulations to our Volunteer of the Year, Gary McGeough! Gary is a long-time volunteer and helped oversee the construction/renovation of our new building.