Raise money and awareness on Facebook

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I've found out recently that I've been referring to Mission of Mercy incorrectly.

Actually, the correct title of the organization I'm so grateful for is

A Mission Of Mercy

.
There is a Mission of Mercy it's not "our" Mission of Mercy.

What's going on is that here, in Frederick Maryland, where A Mission of Mercy's headquarters is located, we refer to it without the *A* because ours is here and the other one is somewhere else:)

The *other* Mission of Mercy seems to be a great cause, when Googled one can see that the purpose of the *other* one is to help needy children in other countries.

What does *our* A Mission of Mercy do?

We (I say we because I think of myself as being *on the team*, when I'm an enthusiastic outside supporter with online promotion skills to donate), We at A Mission of Mercy provide free health care and dental care to the under-insured and uninsured of Frederick Maryland.

Ok, so that's still not an accurate definition... A Mission of Mercy provides a

Mobile Medical Care Clinic

in 4 states: Maryland (where I hail from), Pennsylvania, Texas, and Arizona.

The extremely popular online social gathering website "Facebook", which is similar to the hugely successful "MySpace" website, has a section devoted to raising money for registered 501c3 non profit charities.

I've included the Mission of Mercy facebook 'cause' link here on this blog, and on all the articles I've written on Frederick.com and on a new Frederick Maryland Charities blog I've started: http://frederickgives.org

The facebook link will prove to be an easy way to publicize A Mission of Mercy

Free Mobile Dental Clinic needs volunteer Dentist

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There is in Frederick Maryland a Free Mobile Health/ Dental Care Clinic, a traveling Mission of Mercy serving the uninsured and underinsured of Mid Maryland, Pennsylvania and Northern Baltimore Maryland...

And it needs a retired dentist OR a practicing dentist to volunteer.

ONE day a month, you can practice at the location of your choice.

http://amissionofmercy.org

...the mobile medical program
exceeded 200,000 patient visits!

“This represents the rapid growth of Mission of Mercy’s free medical services from our beginnings in Maryland 14 years ago,” said Linda Ryan, Executive Director. “We are humbled to have been able to serve so many, and to witness the need for our services continue to grow in Maryland, Pennsylvania, Arizona and now, Texas.”

As of June 30, 2007, Mission of Mercy had treated 58,153 patients at 200,645 free
medical visits, provided over 356,638 free prescription medications, and performed
39,923 free dental procedures.

http://www.amissionofmercy.org/get_involved

Mobile Medical Clinic - Volunteer Based Free Clinic

Who does Mission of Mercy Serve with their Mobile Medical Clinic?

Our patients are:

The Working Poor

Some working two jobs

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Their Employers do not provide health insurance and they make a little too much to qualify for government assistance

For these patients, the care they receive at Mission of Mercy brings hope for the future.

Many had given up, going without health care for years, (this actually fits my situation and how I came to learn about Mission of Mercy... I endured the pain until it interfered with my job and I began to get fired... fired for being sick) causing their illness to take over their lives.

For others, the choice between obtaining health care for a family member and putting food on the table is no longer a choice they have to make...

Go to a clinic, there is a new "Coffee with Mom" at the Frederick Clinics.

See the tour, see the relief on the patients faces... like I did, I saw them from the perspective of being one of them!

Mobile Medical Clinic - Volunteer Based Free

Part Time Volunteer Dentist Needed

Maryland and Pennsylvania's Mission of Mercy has only ONE volunteer dentist to serve the entire region.

What IS A Mission of Mercy you say?

Mission of Mercy has been providing, since 1994, FREE of CHARGE, Medical and Dental Care AND Prescription medication to the Uninsured Working Poor, Homeless & Economically Disadvantaged People in 4 states. Texas, Arizona, Pennsylvania and Maryland.

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How does Mission of Mercy do that?

Via a Mobile Medical Clinics

That's right Mission of Mercy has an RV outfitted as a health care/ dental care clinic.

What makes Mission of Mercy different?

Over fourteen years ago, Dr Gianna Talone-Sullivan answered a spritual call to make the restoration of dignity and healing through Love her "Mission".

Gianna's future husband, Dr Michael Sullivan, was a former US Army doctor. And he was the first person to answer Mission of Mercy's newspaper ad for Volunteer Doctors.

Dr. Sullivan served on his own "mission" of sorts, he served in Bosnia during his tour of duty as an Army Doctor.

Volunteer Doctors and Dentists are asked to serve ONE day a month, at the same location, usually a local church.

Wait till it happens to you

To those of us that HAVE health insurance, the plight of the un-insured/ under-insured simply seems 'unfortunate'.

To the ranks of the self employed, we can be rather *high and mighty* while we navigate the economy as a lone wolf (entreprenuers) in a sea of sheep (hourly employees). 

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Wait till it happens to YOU!

Get sick and find your self with OUT health insurance.

I know, it happened to ME.

The Maryland office of the Mission of Mercy is in dire need of an additional volunteer dentist.

ONE day a month, the same day each month... you'll get to practice "Pure Medicine"

What do I mean by "Pure Medicine"?

You'll get to remember why you wanted to practice medicine in the first place.

No insurance forms

No struggling to fit what's wrong with your patient into a category that the insurance company will pay for

Dental professionals needed for both Pennsylvania and Maryland Mission of Mercy.

Mission of Mercy is a 501c3 non profit free traveling health care/ dental care clinic.

RV set up as a traveling clinic, usually parked at area churches.

Find Mission of Mercy on FaceBook.com

FaceBook.com, the social networking website (web 2.0 for those of you that appreciate buzz words)has a place for donations to various legitimate (read that 501c3) non profit/ charities to donate to the 'cause' of your choice easily.

FaceBook actually calls this section of their website: Causes

Now if a 'Cause' is a federally listed, official 501c3 charity, one can send money via a web link and ALL the money will go to the charity of your choice.

I set up a Mission of Mercy Cause section on FaceBook:

http://apps.facebook.com/causes/114020?m=33935&recruiter_id=18026537

I've been beating the bushes to find the Mission of Mercy Maryland director, Linda Ryan, a Volunteer Dentist!

Now when I post to all the forums on volunteerism in the US, and non profit charitable websites I can find... while I'm at it, I can leave the link to

http://apps.facebook.com/causes/114020?m=33935&recruiter_id=18026537


http://www.globeofblogs.com/

September Schedule Frederick area clinics

Mission of Mercy schedule for September 2008:

When does MoM come to Frederick Maryland?

Sept 8 Frederick Church of the Brethren

Sept 11 Brunswick Maryland

Sept 11 Taneytown/ Thurmont

Sept 15 Mt Airy

Sept 22 Frederick Church of the Brethren

Sept 23 Brunswick Maryland

Sept 25 Taneytown/ Thurmont

Mission of Mercy also operates in Pennsylvania, Texas and Arizona

Medical Services and Patient Care provided:

A Mission of Mercy is able to assess and/or treat the following:

Head, Eye, Ears, Nose and Throat

Headache and visual symptoms

Inflamation and infections of the eyes

Acute sinus, ear, and throat infections

Ear wax impaction

Routine Dental Care

Currently Mission of Mercy has an accute need of another volunteer dentist by the way!!

Neck

Thyroid disease and lymph node swelling

Uncomplicated neck muscle and skeletal conditions

Cardiovascular

Blood Pressure screening and initiation of treatment

Some disturbances in heart rhythm

Some chest pain conditions

Respiratory

Uncomplicated asthmatic conditions

Acute bronchitis and pneumonia

Gastrointestinal

And this is what brought me to my knees and I lost a $1000 week job...
got fired for being sick???

Heartburn and ulcer conditions

Abdominal pain conditions

Vomiting and diarrhea

Genitourinary

Urinary tract infections

Vaginitis symptoms

Pelvic/rectal pain symptoms

Musculoskeletal

Minor sprains and strains

Minor arthritic or bursitic conditions, tendonitis

Need for diagnostic X ray studies

Skin Conditions

Minor skin infections or inflammatory rashes

Scabies, crabs and lice infestations

Minor lacerations, boils, and cysts, ingrown toenails

Glandular

Some uncomplicated diabetic conditions

Thyroid disease

Psychiatric

Limited counseling

Some psychiatric drugs

X Ray Services

NO on site radiological studies are available. Several hospitals provide limited radiological services at no cost, with additional services at patient expense.

Pharmacy Services
Many prescription drugs will be provided without charge on site. NO narcotics will be distributed on site. Medication counseling and some dietary information will be provided.

Diagnostic Studies

Temperature

Blood Pressure

Visual Acutity Testing

Hemoglobin

Finger STick Blood Glucose and Cholesterol

Urine Dipstick Analysis

Microscopic Wet Prep

Potassium Hydroxide Prep

Urine Pregnancy Tests

Fecal Occult Blood

Electrocardiagram

Oxygen Saturation

Peak Respiratory Flow Rates

To donate follow this link:

http://amissionofmercy.org/donate

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Increase of Chronic Illness

From the "Faces of Mission of Mercy" pamphlet:

Due to a continuing upward trend in the number of uninsured and the increased incidence of chronic illness, Mission of Mercy has become the long term, primary care provider for many of our patients. The increase in chronic illness affects our clinics in several ways:

the medical cases are more complicated; which means visits take longer

our ability to grow is limited; and it is more difficult for new patients to access our care

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Chronic illnesses are diseases of slow progression and long duration. Some of the most common are

diabetes

hypertension (high blood pressure)

asthma

arthritis

chronic pain

depression

migrane

coronary heart disease

irritable bowel syndrome (inserted by David: this is how I came to seek out Mission of Mercy by the way)

Within the US, nearly half of non elderly adults who lack health insurance report one or more chronic conditions - this amounts to fifteen and a half million Americans. IN the Maryland/ Pennsylvania program, seventy percent of patients suffer from one or more chronic conditions and Arizona ranks sixth in the nation for incidence of chronic illness.

Uninsured adults with chronic conditions are less likely than their insured counterparts to receive medical care and to have a usual source of health care.

They seek treatment at a much later stage of thier illness, are more likely to have emergency admissions to the hospital (and we all know what emergency visits do to local hospital budgets), and have a higher mortality rate once admited.

Poverty can also play a crucial role in chronic illess. Patients may live in substandard housing, their diet and nutrition may be compromised, and lack of transportation, child care and flexible work schedules prove problematic in accessing needed medical care.

Mission of Mercy bridges the health care gap for many who are experiencing the double burden of poverty and chronic illness by providing regular access to free medical and free dental care and prescription medicines. Patients who are monitored regularly and receive ongoing prescription medications are better able to manage thier illness, prevent further complications and generally improve their quality of life. At regularly scheduled appointments patients conditions are evaluated, and perhaps are mentored on healthy lifesytles and on the self management of their illness.

http://www.amissionofmercy.org/arizona/
In Arizona, 1/3 of all patient visits are for patients suffering from diabetes. In 2006. Mission of Mercy's Arizona program successfully integrated the "Living with Diabetes Management Program" and Education Program into individual patient visits and treatment plans. Diabetes patients compliant with their treatment plan at Mission of Mercy continued to realize a reduction of A1C levels - associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular diseases, eye damage, kidney damage, and microvascular disease.

Through YOUR support Mission of Mercy will continue to "restore dignity" and "healing through LOVE" to the chronically ill patients that we serve.

According to the Center for Disease Control, adults age eighteen to sixty four without health insurance rose to 36,500,000 in 2006 from 34,500,000 in 2005

Retired Dentist Needed

Mission of Mercy needs a volunteer dentist.

A retired dentist or a practicing dentist to serve one day a month at one of the four Maryland Free health care clinics listed in the post below.

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I used the services of Mission of Mercy, I also helped at thier model boat (yacht) race for the fund raising event they had in Carroll County Maryland.



These people impressed me so much I'm going to bat for them!

Mission of Mercy, a non profit (501c3) traveling health care clinic needs a dentist.

Maryland and Pennsylvania Clinic Locations

Clinic Locations:

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note: There are Mission of Mercy dental/health care clinics in different denominations of Churches.

Reistertown, Maryland
Riestertown United Methodist Church
246 Main St.
410 833-5870

Westminster, Maryland
Human Services Programs Barrel House
10 Distillery Dr.
410 857-2999

Taneytown, Maryland
St Joesph's Catholic Church
44 Frederick St.
410 857-2999

Frederick Maryland
Frederick Church of the Brethren
201 Fairview Ave
301 631-2670 xt 110

Mount Airy Maryland
Calvary United Methodist Church
403 S. Main St.
301 829-0358

Thurmont Maryland
Our Lady of Mt Carmel Catholic Church
103 N Church St.
301 631-2670 xt 110

Brunswick Maryland
Faith Baptist Church
2212 Jefferson Pike
301 631-2670 xt 110

Gettysburg Pennsylvania
Gettysburg Foursquare Church
330 West Middle St.
717 337-6469

Harrisburg Pennsylvania
Christ Lutheran Church
124 S. 13th St.
717 972-4943

And remember, the Mission of Mercy needs volunteer dentists:

Dental Professional Volunteers Needed

Frederick is blessed to have not one but 4 visits a month from Mission of Mercy.

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4 locations in Frederick
Frederick Maryland
Frederick Church of the Brethren
201 Fairview Ave
301 631-2670 x110 (appointments)

Brunswick Maryland
Faith Baptist Church
2212 Jefferson Pike
301 631-2670 x110 (appointments)

Mt Airy Maryland
Calvary United Methodist Church
403 South Main Street
301 829-0358 (site number)

Thurmont Maryland
Our Lady of Mt Carmel Catholic Church
103 North Church Street
301 631-2670 x110 (appointments)
Mission of Mercy needs more volunteer dentists

Physicians and Healthcare Professionals

If you are an active or retired licensed medical professional, Mission of Mercy's Medical Clinics could use your skills to help serve our patients, particularly if you are a physician (internists and specialty), physician assistant, registered nurse, nurse practitioner, pharmacists, dentist, dental hygienist, or dental assistant. Volunteers are needed Monday - Friday between 8:00 am and 4:00 pm.

Dental Clinic Sites: Frederick, Brunswick, Westminster, Reisterstown, Gettysburg, Harrisburg and now Mt. Airy. Our dental clinic is a walk-in dental clinic. Appointments are not taken over the phone. Procedures performed are fillings and extractions.

For more information please contact:

Maryland / Pennsylvania Clinics

Physicians, Dentists, Physician's Assistants, and Nurse Practitioners: Dr. Michael Sullivan
717-642-9062
Email:Msullivan@aMissionOfMercy.org

Nurses, Translators, and Registration: Maureen Liddle, RN
717-642-6521
Email:Mliddle@comcast.net



Mission of Mercy asks it's volunteer doctors, nurses and pharmacists to commit ONLY to one day of service each month.


Mission of Mercy's volunteers often sign up to work at the same clinic each month, allowing for the development of strong doctor/patient relationship.

History of and Mission of...

Mission of Mercy

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Without access to health care, the under insured and uninsured working poor AND their families suffer most.

Too often, they must drop out of the workforce, forego care or seek treatment at hospital emergency rooms. Mission of Mercy fills this gap by providing free medical care to those who are 'falling through the cracks' of our countries health care system.

History of and Mission of "Mission of Mercy"

Founded in 1994, a Mission of Mercy is a (501c3) non sectarian charity whose mission is "to restore dignity to the sick, poor and homeless by providing free medical and dental care and healing through Love"

This mission is accomplished through a mobile medical program that utilizes active and retired licenced volunteer medical professionals to provide free healthcare and free prescription medications to those who have no health insurance or LIMITED access to health care.

Mission of Mercy operates eighteen clinics in Four States:

Maryland

Pennsylvania

Arizona

Texas

All healthcare services are provided FREE regardless of race,creed, color, national orign or faith

Who is Treated?

NO ONE IS DENIED CARE.
However, our patients are predominately the working poor who pay taxes and do not receive government assistance. These patients do NOT receive health insurance through their employers and can't afford to pay for it out of pocket.

Mission of Mercy needs volunteer dentists.

To donate financially, go to http://amissionofmercy.org/donate/

Mission of Mercy's Tax I.D. #86-0704883

To find out more about Mission of Mercy go to http://frederick.com
and type into the search box (upper left hand corner)
Mission of Mercy

===============================
"Healing Through Love"

A Mission of Mercy is a nonprofit organization with the purpose of helping those who are in need but do not have the means to fulfill those needs for themselves. A team of licensed active and retired medical professionals help provide these needs. Free medical and dental services, along with prescription medications have become available to the uninsured working, homeless, and those who have found themselves in economic troubles, all through this compassionate organization. The mission seeks to help those in need by providing free basic healthcare by "healing through love."

Many volunteer administrative, healthcare, and hospitality workers help fulfill the needs of many, no matter what race, color, creed, national origin or religion. The nonprofit organization, A Mission of Mercy, was founded in 1994 by pharmacist, Gianna Talone-Sullivan. Sullivan, who for many years was a clinical pharmacist in Arizona, felt a strong calling which was asking her to help the sick and hurt. The group helps many disadvantaged people in Arizona, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Texas through their traveling medication clinic. This mobile doctor's office has thirteen clinics located in those four states.

The funds that support this miraculous foundation are all the result of private donations from thoughtful individuals just looking to help. The care that the patients receive is that in which resembles a real medical setting. The services are provided through a continuous care system, not just emergency and screening services. The traveling doctor's office is equipped to diagnose and treat conditions ranging from acute to serve illnesses working with; the head, ears, eyes, nose, throat, neck, cardiovascular, respiratory, gastrointestinal, genitourinary, musculoskeletal, skin conditions, glandular, and psychiatric problems. The foundation also prescribes up to 225 different types of prescription medications, which are also free to the foundations patients.

The volunteer organization provides a large range of free medical options available to the uninsured and underinsured including; surgery, lab tests, and x-rays, in consultation with some hospitals, private providers and specialists in their areas. The group also provides dental care, which for now are in the Maryland and Pennsylvania clinics only. The services that are provided through the dental section of the foundation are; extractions, fillings, dental exams and x-rays, and to instruct patients on proper dental hygiene. A Mission of Mercy's dental program is fully mobile; operating with everything a traditional dental office would have including; their portable treatment chair, x-ray machine, light, high-speed autoclave, and many sets of instruments, hand tools, compressor, and a electric generator.

A Mission of Mercy also provides prenatal care programs, which are only located in Frederick at the time being. The patients who participate in the prenatal care program will receive; a series of personal visits with a doctor and/or a nurse mid-wife, a supply of multivitamins and other necessary prescription medications, lab and diagnostic imaging services, prenatal blood work and a copy of complete medical records. Even though the volunteer physicians cannot deliver the child, the mother is given full medical records that she can provide to doctors at the hospital. A Mission of Mercy provides everything in which a traditional medical setting would provide. The organization is just a moving and free medical provider trying to fulfill the needs of the uninsured and underinsured.

Mission of Mercy needs dentists

I asked Linda Ryan, Executive Director of  Mission of Mercy's Maryland/Pennsylvania Program, what she needed most.

Her reply?

Dentists

A volunteer Dentist, we're only asking for one day a month.

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Mission of Mercy asks it's volunteer doctors, nurses and pharmacists to commit ONLY to one day of service each month.
Mission of Mercy's volunteers often sign up to work at the same clinic each month, allowing for the development of strong doctor/patient relationship.

The Maryland/ Pennsylvania Free traveling health care clinic needs MORE DENTISTS.

Dental care is the #1 most pressing health care issue of Maryland/Pennsylvania uninsured and underinsured.

Oh and do NOT send money to me or this blog, to send help (and God knows it's needed) go to this OFFICIAL Mission of Mercy website:

http://amissionofmercy.org/donate/

David Bruce Jr.
Social Media Marketing for 501c3 charities provided pro bono

Myths & Facts about the Unisured

Health Insurance Myths and Facts

Myth
People without health coverage don't work

Fact:80% of people who are uninsured, are working families

Myth
People without health insurance get medical care

Fact:
Over 47% of the uninsured postpone seeking care because of cost, 37% do not fill drug prescriptions because of cost and 35% went without a recommended medical test or treatment due to cost. At least 18,000 Americans die prematurely each year of treatable diseases because they don't have health coverage.

Myth
Most uninsured workers are offered employer-sponsored health insurance.

Fact:
67% of uninsured workers are employed by a firm that does not offer insurance and another 20% of uninsured workers are employed by a firm that offers health benefits, but they are not eligible for them.

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Myth
Poor people can use the emergency room if they need to see a doctor.

Fact:
Emergency rooms do not provide preventive or routine care for chronic illnesses like asthma, diabetes, high blood pressure and cardiac conditions. When a chronic illness goes untreated, the uninsured are often forced to seek treatment at emergency rooms, but do not get ongoing care for chronic illnesses.

Myth
I am busy with my medical practice and don't have much time to volunteer. I cannot make a difference.

Fact:
Mission of Mercy asks it's volunteer doctors, nurses and pharmacists to commit ONLY to one day of service each month.
Mission of Mercy's volunteers often sign up to work at the same clinic each month, allowing for the development of strong doctor/patient relationship.

Myth
Mission of Mercy receives money from the government. They don't need my support.

Fact:
The only income for all of Mission of Mercy's services is derived from private donations. No government funds are used to operate the free Mobile Medical Program. This policy of accepting no government funds enables our patients to receive medical care without the degrading experience of having to prove their poverty.

Myth
I do not have a medical background; I have nothing to offer Mission of Mercy.

Fact:
Mission of Mercy also relies on other volunteers to operate it's programs. Our Auxiliary("MOM's Family") is a vital part of Mission of Mercy. It consists of individuals with caring hearts who join in many different ways to serve others. As most of them do not have a medical background, it is their job to assist other Mission of Mercy volunteers as they bring healing through Love. Over 1,300 members in 6 countries currently serve in one or more areas of support:

Prayer service
Service support
and Financial support.

Myth
I cannot afford to make a large financial gift to Mission of Mercy. My gift is not needed.

Fact:
Since Mission of Mercy does not receive government funding, the combined help of many is what sustains our work. Your support at ANY level will assist Mission of Mercy in it's efforts to provide the uninsured poor with treatment by a physician, referred speciality care, prescription medications, and diagnostic, lab and Xray services.

David Bruce Jr.
Social Media Marketing for 501c3 charities provided pro bono

Frederick Maryland Mission of Mercy's Dick Baldwin

Dick Baldwin is not a doctor, he is to the patients needing health care in Frederick Maryland's Mission of Mercy a Godsend.

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Dick Baldwin is amazing
By: David Bruce Jr

Dick Baldwin is nothing short of amazing.

Dick runs the Frederick Mission of Mercy traveling health clinic


From the Mission of Mercy website:

Mission of Mercy, a nonprofit organization, seeks to restore dignity to all people by being an instrument of "Healing through Love". based on an innovative volunteer-based model, M of M is able to treat large numbers of patients with active and retired medical professionals

On July 28th, at 4:40 AM I found myself waiting in line at the
Frederick Church of the Brethren I'd been without health insurance for almost a year and needed to find out if I had cancer.

The reason I had to get there so early is because Mission of Mercy's free health clinic is swamped- in this economy, Demand Exceeds Supply

There were a dozen people in line before I got there and I was there at 20 minutes of 5AM!
Many of them were there to get teeth pulled. There just aren't enough dentists to serve the number of people needing dental care.

At 7:00 AM the doors opened at the Frederick Church of the Brethren. Dozens of people came through the door- Dick Baldwin was there to greet them
Too many people in need and not enough Dentists to go around.
Without Dick Baldwin, the truly needy would be left out.

How I found out about Mission of Mercy through working part time for D & D Pony Rides, we provided pony rides for the Mission of Mercy Fund Raising "Regatta" at Carolyn Scott's Home in Westminster.

That day I saw many people putting their money where their heart is.

People from all walks of life come to Mission of Mercy for free health care and free dental care.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

My father died of prostate cancer in July 2005. I had symptoms of prostate problems...
I also found my self temporarily homeless recently. I'd moved out of the Hurley Hilt'n and into a basement apartment off Jefferson st. The owner of the house was not an American Citizen, he'd remodeled the basement (without adhering to local building codes) and the basement apartment's bathroom plumbing frequently overflowed.

The owner of the home blamed me for the toilet backing up and tried to evict me. After calling the police on me and finding he had to give me 30 days to vacate he resorted to packing my belongings up while I was at work.

Without a lease or even a written agreement I had no way to prove I had to move and at no fault of my own... so I got the City Of Frederick's Building Inspector to condemn the apartment.

This left me with no place to go.
It got worse...

I found myself living in Frederick City's Cold Weather Shelter, I had a job, had the use of a friends car but it was 20 degrees outside and I couldn't hold my $1000 week job while sleeping in my car.

I'd gotten sick, I thought I'd contracted something from the unsanitary bathtub... I couldn't seem to digest my food.. it hurt to eat, I thought maybe it was Chrones disease?

I was losing weight, I couldn't muster the energy to unload my tractor trailer.
My friends at the Post Office Warehouse (Landover H.A.S.P.) would unload my truck for me.

On the 89th day, the day before my health insurance was to kick in-
the US Mail Contractor in Frederick Maryland (Blue Moutain Express) I worked for fired me.

Fired me for being sick?

I was aghast. I didn't think they could do that, I'd gone to the Frederick Community Action Agency for help with my digestive problem... I had a doctor's note...

Maryland is a Right To Work State
that means a firm can fire you for any reason at any time.

Now what was I going to do?

Since then I had multiple health problems... and no job
The company I worked for thought I was using drugs... I was losing weight and didn't look healthy.

I really thought maybe I had cancer... I thought I'd not live to see my Granddaughter grow up.

So I waited in line at the Mission of Mercy traveling health clinic from 4:40 am until they could see
me at 11:00 am

I do NOT have cancer!

I have a prostate infection, not an enlarged prostate!
What was wrong is that I'm now lactose intolerant?

How can I live for 50 years and now all of a sudden I'm allergic to milk?

Without the Mission of Mercy I'd still be depressed and without a job and without any hope of living to see my grandchildren.

Dick Baldwin is to the Mission of Mercy what a seasoned "Non Com" is to soldiers under fire.
(a Non Com is a Non Commissioned Officer, a Sargent or Chief Petty Officer)

Mission of Mercy is (from the perspective of a client) like a M.A.S.H unit
chaotic and ruthlessly efficient.

When the artillery shells start exploding overhead all the lieutenants start peeing their pants.

The grunts look to the Sargent to get their fat out of the fire.
Dick Baldwin is such a Sargent.

=============================

David Bruce Jr.
Social Media Marketing for 501c3 charities provided pro bono