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Location finalized for first free Fayette clinic

Donations still sought; will open in September

Organizers have secured a site that will host Fayette County’s first free medical/dental clinic, and they plan to have it up and running by Sept. 12.

The Fayette CARE (Compassion and Respect for Everyone) Clinic will provide no-cost healthcare to the uninsured, working poor residents of Fayette County, officials said. The organization will be located at 128 Sumner Road, just off Ga. Highway 54 between Peachtree City and Fayetteville.

A fund-raising goal of $75,000 has been set, and anyone can donate by going to the clinic’s Web site, www.fayettecareclinic.com. A barbecue fundraiser will be held Aug. 12 at the clinic’s new offices. Barbecue and hot dogs will be served, and visitors can tour the facility as it changes into a medical/dental clinic. The event will be from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and tickets are $5 in advance and $7 at the door.

Commitments of funding, equipment, furnishings and services have come from businesses and individuals including Piedmont Fayette Community Hospital, which will donate blood work, X-rays and other medical tests. Clothes Less Traveled, Inc., has funded $16,500 to cover a year’s lease on the building and i2Marketing has donated the web site domain and maintenance.

Panasonic has also chipped in with equipment, and numerous medical and dental providers have committed time, money and equipment.

The clinic’s board of directors elected officers this week, including:

• Gail McNair, president. McNair is a nurse-anesthetist and registered nurse by training, and she also chairs the medical services and volunteers committees. Her husband, Dr. John McNair, a partner in Radiology Associates of Atlanta, P.A., also volunteers with the clinic.

• Ginger C. Blackstone, vice president. Blackstone is chair of the development committee and co-chair of the marketing committee while editing the group’s Web page.

• Wendy K. Larsh, secretary. Larsh is a certified physician’s assistant.

• Sheryl Watford, treasurer. Watford is chair of the clinic’s facilities committee.

• Co-founders Dr. Betsy Horton, who is also medical services director, and Mary Ann Cox, executive director, will continue in their leadership roles. Other board members include Teresa Simmons, Gregory Alvarez, Lisa Hedenstrom and Chuck Micallef. Jennifer Pate is the administrative director and is responsible for the clinic’s day to day operations.