By Erika Maguire
special correspondent

With national health care being brought to the forefront this summer, some organizations such as the Love of Jesus Health Clinic, located at 10930 Hull Street Rd., are filling gaps for those who are unable to afford even the most basic services.

The LOJ Health Clinic, which is a part of the Richmond Outreach Ministries, has been serving the community for over six years, providing quality medical care to low income and uninsured individuals. It was formerly known as the Commonwealth Clinic,

Upon its establishment in 2003, it was the first free clinic in Chesterfield County, and over the years, it has continued to meet the needs of those in the surrounding area.

“I can’t imagine what it would be like if this clinic wasn’t here,” said Gwen Mansini, the clinic’s director of development. “We’re part of something much bigger than us,” she added, explaining that without the clinic’s services, its patients, which in 2008, stood at 715, would have no where else to receive the resources the clinic provides for free.

Funded only through private donations and grants, 100 percent of the clinic’s medical care is administered by volunteers, all of whom vary in specialty and background. In collaboration with various businesses, churches and the HCA and Bon Secours Health Systems, the clinic has seen enormous growth and success over the years.

“The clinic does an amazing amount of work with the amount of money we have,” said Executive Director Elizabeth Croxton. In 2008, the clinic yielded over 4,000 patient visits and, with its partnership with the Virginia Health Care Foundation and its Pharmacy Connection, was able to provide prescription medications at a dramatically reduced price, saving their patients an estimated $850,000.

With a vision statement to touch and improve lives, the LOJ Health Clinic strives to meet not only their patients’ physical needs, but their spiritual ones as well.

“As an outreach ministry of the ROM, we have resources with all the local churches as well as biblical-based counseling,” said Croxton. The clinic also began offering a variety of other counseling services this summer, all of which are supervised by trained professionals.

With the power to help thousands in the community, the LOJ Health Clinic has become a vital resource for many individuals, explained Croxton. Yet, as the demand for the clinic’s health care services continually increases, much help is needed from within the surrounding community.

“We really need the community at large to rise up and help,” she said. “Whether it’s just a few hours a month or a small donation, we just need help in order to meet the needs of others.”

Several companies and businesses are now doing everything they can to ensure the longevity of programs such as LOJ Health Clinic and alleviate the pressures caused by reduced funding.

Earlier this month, Dominion Resources Inc., parent company of Dominion Virginia Power, donated $1 million to free health clinics in Virginia and 13 other states. The LOJ Heath Clinic was given $5,000.

William Hall Jr., Vice President of Corporate Communications and Community Affairs at Dominion, explained that due to the current recession, the company is refocusing its efforts and donations on basic human needs, such as health care.

“The number of people using these services has grown exponentially,” Hall said. “What we’re doing now is focusing our corporate giving on human needs and services like free clinics, food banks and energy assistance.” The grant may be used to fund doctor exams, prescription medications, laboratory work and diagnostic tests, such as X-Rays.

Despite the struggles the clinic may face, it will continue to promote its mission of showing the love of Jesus by providing free health care to the low-income and uninsured.