By Mercy's Courtney Landsberger
Thanks to $560,000 in Mercy grants, more than 63,000 people in multiple states will receive needed dental care, counseling, housing, meals and school lunches.
Since 1988, the Mercy Caritas (Latin for charity) grant program has provided more than $14.5 million to communities. This year’s $500,000 in grants will affect almost three dozen community programs across the Midwest. In addition, the Catherine McAuley Area of Greatest Need grant – which is funded through Mercy co-worker donations – provides an extra $60,000 to Mercy-sponsored programs.
“Our Founder Catherine McAuley and the Sisters of Mercy became known as the ‘Walking Sisters’ because they were determined not to remain cloistered in a convent, and they went out into the communities to care for those in need,” said Kevin Minder, executive director of mission and community health for Mercy. “As Mercy, this is what we do. This grant money allows us to provide additional services for those in need.”
The community organizations benefiting from Mercy Caritas grants include:
Arkansas:
- Children’s Advocacy Center of Benton County, Rogers – support program for abused children and families
- Cooper-Anthony Mercy Child Advocacy Center, Hot Springs – medical and counseling services for young victims of abuse
- Hannah House, Fort Smith – a residential facility and structured program for young women in crisis
- Havenwood Program, Rogers – safe housing, networking and life skills training for single mothers
- Loving Choices Pregnancy Center, Rogers – free pregnancy tests, ultrasounds, sexual health and reproductive health issues
- Mercy Crest Retirement Living, Barling – an assisted and independent resident facility
- Restoration Village, Rogers – long-term housing and services to women and women with children
- Samaritan Community Center, Rogers – a community medical clinic, food pantry, garden and school lunch program for the low-income and uninsured
Louisiana
- Mercy Family Center, New Orleans – outpatient behavioral health services for children and families
Missouri:
- Advocates for a Healthy Community, Springfield – medical, dental, mental health, substance abuse and vision care for the low-income and uninsured
- Community Action Network, Franklin Co. – a program of Foundations for Franklin County that provides services for a number of different needs in the community from transportation to substance abuse help
- Community Care Connection, Lincoln Co. – an initiative by the Lincoln County Health Department to provide community health workers in vulnerable populations
- Community Clinic of Joplin, Joplin – provides medical and dental care for uninsured residents in Joplin and surrounding communities
- Community Referral Coordinator Program, Jefferson County – an initiative to connect uninsured and Medicaid patients in hospitals to primary care homes in the St. Louis area
- Family Enrichment Center, Springfield – long-term interventional program providing assistance for the homeless
- Forge Center for Virtue and Work, Joplin – six month residential program dedicated to work readiness and spiritual, physical and educational development
- Good Samaritan Care Clinic, Mountain View – a free health clinic providing consultations with medical and dental providers, medication, laboratory services, X-rays and dental extractions
- Family Support Program for Zero Suicide Initiative, St. Louis – a National Alliance on Mental Illness program that provides peer and family support following discharge from the hospital including suicide prevention and behavioral health care strategies and tools
Oklahoma
- El Reno Blessings Baskets, El Reno – Christmas, school supply and summer meal program for low-income families
- Good Shepherd Catholic School at Mercy, Oklahoma City – a school for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and other neurological disabilities
- Good Shepherd Community Clinic, Ardmore – volunteer clinic providing medical, dental, optical and pharmaceutical care for the uninsured
- Grace Center of Southern Oklahoma, Ardmore – an assistance program for homeless families and individuals
- Health Alliance for the Uninsured, Oklahoma City – a non-profit organization that coordinates and improves health care services for the low-income or uninsured
- Johnston County Health Care Coalition, Tishomingo – referral services for childcare health and wellness and parenting education in child safety and development
- Mercy Health Foundation, Ada – financial support and assistance for patients diagnosed with or recovering from cancer
- Mercy in Schools, Oklahoma City – ongoing mental health, nutrition and healthy living education for students, staff and family in the city and surrounding area
- Outpatient Care Management Fund, Oklahoma City – assistance to provide basic necessities like air conditioning and food to outpatients of Mercy Hospital Oklahoma City
- C/Sara Foundation, Ardmore – a facility for abused children in southern Oklahoma
