Fall 2019
Pulse Check from the Executive Director...
Continuing Our Impact Throughout the Coastal Bend...
Thank you Coastal Bend supporters for your investment of financial donations, volunteerism, partnerships, and more! Mission of Mercy celebrates 18 months since our first clinic day in our new Medical Center. On March 5, 2018, we assisted our first patient in the facility with free medical care. Since that day, our impact includes implementing a vision clinic, behavior health counseling, healthy cooking classes, diabetes education classes with a support group, faith and finance classes, faith and work classes and more. Sherry Bowers Executive Director
In addition, we continue to provide free medical care to our uninsured patients with prescription assistance programs, eyewear assistance, flu shots and more in the Medical Center and at our mobile clinic site in Sandia, Texas. During our most recent fiscal year we saw 1,896 patients, a 17% increase from our previous year.
March 5, 2018 - Medical Clinic opening day! Our first Mission of Mercy provides hope to many who have lost hope patient at the new Medical Clinic. while being shuffled from one place to another looking for help. We take pride in providing that hope to those who need it most.
In This Issue
• 2019-2020 Leadership Council Announced • MASH BASH • Welcome New Volunteers • New Partnerships • Remaining Mobile • Community Partner Spotlight • Physician’s Spotlight • Around the Clinic • How You Can Help ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE 2019-2020 Leadership Council Announced... Sherry Bowers, CFRE Executive Director We are pleased to announce our Mission of Mercy Leadership Council for Jennifer Janecek 2019-2020. These generous individuals provide leadership expertise, Development Director facilitate community connections and participate in philanthropic
Angie Martinez activities. We are blessed to have such wonderful individuals give of their Clinic Manager time and treasures.
Diana Alvear Community Outreach Coordinator
Norma Garza Clinic Assistant
Jesse Villarreal Custodian
MEDICAL TEAM Dr. John Navar Administrative Medical Director
Dr. Richard Porter From left to right (front): Rev. Gloria Lear, First United Methodist Church; Medical Director Lynette Navar, RN, Nursing Director; Sherry Bowers, Executive Director;
Dr. Kent Tompkins Jennifer Janecek Development Director; (top row): Jose Trejo, Treasurer Medical Director National Board of Directors; Dr. Cindy Hemesath, National Board of Directors; Scott Williams, Grant Writer; Andy Crocker, Crocker Moving Lynette Navar, RN and Storage and National Board Chairman; not pictured: Stephen Nursing Director Kazanjian, CHRISTUS Health System Tina Kline, RN Assistant Nursing Director
Dr. Cecil Bourne Welcome New Volunteers... Dr. Ted Cleaves Dr. Jack Cram Dr. Lynn Rice Crocker Misty Cavazos, RN Mary Leos, LVN Dr. Maria DeArman Dr. Bill Dennis Tristan Cavazos Jennifer Monreal, RN Dr. Jim Dinn Dr. Jim Dinn Dr. Leonel Palmero Dr. Lydia Graham Nancy Goodman, RN Dianna Shaw, RN Dr. Richard Guajardo Dr. Cindy Hemesath Dr. Lydia Graham Patti Stoldorf, RN Dr. Ryan Joseph Dr. Richard Guajardo Swetha Vempati Dr. Bob May Leah Villarreal, RN Dr. Adaeze Nwosu Dr. Blake O’Lavin Deborah Houlihan, RN Dr. Leonel Palmero Dr. John Pettigrove Dr. Cristian Radaneata Mission of Mercy is always in need of volunteer doctors, Dr. Sandra Rodrigues nurses, office staff and data entry clerks. If you are Dr. Arnoldo Villarreal Dr. Gordon Welch, Jr. interested in volunteering, please contact Jennifer at Dr. Fariba Zarinetchi 361-883-5500 ext. 112 for more information. Remaining Mobile… Our compassionate quality care for our patients also includes assisting the uninsured in the rural areas of Sandia, Texas. Medical care in the rural areas is extremely limited. It is vital that Mission of Mercy remain mobile in assisting our patients who may have transportation challenges.
We continue to partner with the Knolle Jersey Farm as they provide a small building for our use. Every other Wednesday, our nurses and volunteers transport medical supplies, medications, and patient files to our small but successful Country Clinic! We are grateful for the care that Dr. John Pettigrove and other physicians provide as they donate their time. Our rural patients receive the personal one- on-one care they need as we help restore their dignity.
Physician’s Spotlight... Dr. Cindy Hemesath, DPM has been a volunteer physician at Mission of Mercy for the past three years. She was first introduced to Mission of Mercy by Dr John Navar. She currently sees patients at Mission of Mercy once a month taking care of everything from ingrown nails, to wounds to musculoskeletal injuries.
When asked why taking care of our feet is important, Dr. Hemesath says "At every age, our feet keep us moving. Just like tires on our cars, therefore they must be maintained for our bodies to work in prime condition. This is especially important for people with Diabetes, poor circulation, neuropathy or auto immune disorders.
These diseases place the feet at higher risk of recovering from injuries for various reasons, ranging from poor blood flow and inability for the injury to receive vital nutrients and/or medications to a person's inability to "feel" when an injury has occurred. Checking the feet daily is necessary for these patients. Unfortunately, some are unable to see the bottom of their feet or between their toes and require telescoping mirrors or another person to check their feet daily."
Since she has started volunteering at Mission of Mercy she has expanded her role here also. Dr. Hemesath is currently on our Texas Leadership Council and has just been voted on to our National Board of Directors. She is just one of the caring and generous physicians who donates her time to our patients.
Your Faith should not be in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. ~ 1 Corinthians 2:5 How You Can Help… Coastal Bend Day of Giving scheduled for Tuesday, November 12, 2019. This 24 hour online fundraiser is one of our biggest fundraiser of the year. Your donation will be matched dollar for dollar. You can even preschedule your online donation a week before the event. Visit www.coastbenddayofgiving.org for more information.
MASH BASH is scheduled for Friday, March 6, 2020. This year’s event will feature multi-platinum country artist and Texas native Tracy Bryd! Our 2020 event will be at the Ortiz Center and B-B-Q will be provided by the Corpus Christi Mustangs. For more information contact Jennifer at 361-883 -5500 x 112 or visit us at www.amissionofmercy.org/texas/events .
Naming Opportunities can be secured at various amounts in the Medical Clinic or Sandia Clinic. Your pledge for a naming opportunity can be paid out up to four years. You can make payments monthly or annually it is up to you. Donors can specify the wording on our Donor Wall and custom made Aloe Tile. Leave a legacy as a family or honor family members, friends or others. Contact Sherry Bowers if you are interested in a naming opportunity at 361-883-5500 x 104.
Host your own fundraising event to help us support our mission to restore dignity, “Healing through Love,” by providing free healthcare. We welcome and greatly appreciate support from individuals, organizations and corporations to host benefits and special events on behalf of Mission of Mercy. Contact Sherry Bowers at 361-883-5500 x 104 for more information.
Thank Our Volunteers by bringing... Cases of Water Snacks, cookies, cakes for break time Breakfast or lunch for our Volunteers Coffee—K Cups for Keurig for volunteer breakroom Goodie bags filled with items to inspire!
Volunteer your time is a wonderful way to help support Mission of Mercy. We have volunteer opportunities for physicians, nurses and support staff such as data entry and registration.
Visit Mission of Mercy! Interested in seeing Mission of Mercy in action call and schedule a tour of our Medical Center or our Sandia Clinic. Learn more about Mission of Mercy, the amazing volunteers and how your donation makes an impact in the community.
“It’s not how much we give, but how much love we put into giving.”
~ Mother Teresa Join us for MASH BASH 2020 Friday, March 6th Ortiz Center
Join us for B-B-Q by the Corpus Christi Mustangs, games, auction and entertainment by multi-platinum artist and Texas native Tracy Byrd Tracy Byrd became a household name on the Country Music Scene in 1993 with his third single “Holdin Heaven” and won Academy of Country Music’s “Song of the Year” for “The Keeper of the Star’s” in 1995. Byrd has since sold millions of records and has given us other country hits such as “Watermelon Crawl, Lifestyles of the Not So Rich and Famous,” and “(Don’t Take Her) She’s All I Got.” Born in Vidor and raised in Beaumont, Byrd is a Texas boy through and through. We are excited to have Tracy Byrd for our MASH BASH 2020 event!
Underwriting opportunities start at $1,500 and Tickets are $150 each or $250 per couple Only a limited number of tables and tickets available! Contact Jennifer at 361-883-5500 x112 or [email protected]
New Partnerships…
During our last fiscal year July 1, 2018—June 30, 2019, Mission of Mercy served 1,896 patients. We have numerous volunteers that come to us through various ways. Recently we have partnered with University of Texas Health San Antonio School of Nursing South Texas, Texas A&M University Corpus Christi College of Nursing and Health Science, and University of the Incarnate Word Ila Faye Miller School of Nursing & Health Professions. Individuals who are seeking a Bachelors or Masters Degree in Nursing are able to do their clinical hours at Mission of Mercy.
This partnership is two fold, as Mission of Mercy continues to grow we need more nurses to serve our patients. As universities are teaching these nurses, it isa interictal part of their learning to come to a place like Mission of Mercy to see first hand what community outreach is and really understand the significant problems in healthcare. It also introduces the students to the various collaborations and organizations out there that can further help the patient. Pictured: Jennifer Monreal, RN- student at the University of the Incarnate Word triaging patients “They help us a lot by supplying us with more nursing help in the clinic and we before they see our physicians supply them significantly with their learning.” says Nursing Director, Lynette Navar. “There is a big difference between going to a hospital and learning and going out into the community to find out what the real needs are particularly amongst our region. We have significant number of people with no insurance and nobody really realizes how difficult it is to get healthcare.”
Community Partner Spotlight …
Our spotlight shines brightly on Coastal Bend Food Bank who have been a blessing to Mission of Mercy by providing Healthy Cooking Classes at no cost to our patients. They teach us healthy alternatives with easy recipes. In addition they teach patients how to read labels, calculate portions and educate them on the importance of a well balanced diet focusing on diabetes and high blood pressure.
Thank you Coastal Bend Food Bank for helping our patients learn more about food and giving them another tool in their belt to use for a healthier life.
Around the Clinic…
“Try to be a RAINBOW in someone else’s cloud.”
~ Maya Angelou
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2421 Ayers Street Corpus Christi, TX 78404
Our mission is to restore dignity, “Healing through Love,” by providing free healthcare.
On Tuesday, November 12, 2019 the Coastal Contact Us Bend Community Foundation will hold a 24 For more information about: hour online opportunity to raise funds for nonprofits who are at the front lines of Clinic Services and Appointments 361-883-5500 assisting the neediest of our Coastal Bend neighbors. This community “give-together” Need Help Making a Gift starts at midnight with a minimum of only $10. Jennifer Janecek [email protected] 361-883-5500 ext. 112 Each of the participating nonprofits is eligible for a matching gift, enabling them to at least Become a Volunteer Jennifer Janecek double their match on the day. Mission of Mercy is honored to have 361-883-5500 Ext. 112 been chosen again to participate in this annual event. Mission of Mercy Last year with your help we raised over $72,000 and with your support Sherry Bowers, CFRE Executive Director we hope to surpass that amount this year! We hope that you will help 2421 Ayers Street Mission of Mercy raise the much needed funds to continue our mission Corpus Christi, Texas 78404 of “Healing through LOVE.” www.amissionofmercy.org/texas Like Us on Facebook Watch your snail mail and email for more information on how and when @missionofmercytx you can preschedule your gift to help us reach our match! Follow us on Instagram @missionofmercytexas