Volunteers in Medicine Clinic receives grants

Volunteers in Medicine (VIM) is pleased to announce the recent award of more than $43,000 in grant funding to help sponsor the medical care and prescriptions for 57 patients for a year.

“We are honored that The Autzen Foundation, Chambers Family Foundation, Cow Creek Umpqua Indian Foundation, and The Roundhouse Foundation share our mission and have chosen to support our clinic,” said Kat Mastrangelo, Executive Director at VIM. “This commitment to community health allows low-income, uninsured adults in Central Oregon access to quality compassionate healthcare and keeps our region strong.”

VIM’s services are provided on a donation basis to adults over 18 who live in the tri-county area and are either not eligible for Affordable Care Act programs, or have some extenuating circumstance that makes it impossible for them to afford necessary healthcare.

All of VIM’s patients have incomes that are less than 200% of the Federal Poverty Line – less than $48,800 per year for a family of four. Most patients work – one, two or three jobs and do their best to support their families, but their best often isn’t enough. When an uninsured breadwinner must choose between spending money on their own healthcare or feeding their family, they will almost always choose their family.

“Most of the patients that come to VIM have multiple chronic conditions that could have been prevented with timely and consistent access to medical care. This is what VIM provides – a safe place to receive necessary care that also respects the difficult choices that a low-income family breadwinner must make,” says Mastrangelo.

More than 300 big-hearted clinic volunteers, 400+ community medical partners, and hundreds of compassionate, generous donors pool their strengths to care for the uninsured. This unique collaboration has kept thousands of low-income adults healthy, working, and able to care for their families over the last 11 years.

“With the ongoing support of donors like The Autzen Foundation, Chambers Family Foundation, Cow Creek Umpqua Indian Foundation, The Roundhouse Foundation and our dedicated volunteers, VIM will continue to serve the medically uninsured for as long as there is a need,” said Mastrangelo. “Together we are making a difference in the health of our workforce and our community.”

About VIM
Volunteers in Medicine (VIM) was established in 2001 and provides free medical, mental health, vision and prescription drug care for adults over 18 who live or work in Deschutes, Crook or Jefferson County, earn less than 200% of federal poverty levels and are underinsured or uninsured. Last year, VIM provided care across more than 4,573 patient visits. Funding is through individual and corporate donations, grants, and patient donations.