Community Care Clinic honors two with awards: Salisbury Post

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A surprised but delighted Gordon Hurley will receive the Silent Angel award at the Community Clinic of Rowan’s annual Community Thanks dinner. Photo by Elisabeth Strillacci

The crowd at the Community Thanks dinner for Rowan’s Community Clinic begins to stand and applaud Silent Angel award recipient Gordon Hurley. Photo by Elisabeth Strillacci

Mike Fuller, right, and medical director Dr. Amy Wilson, center, presents Andy Basinger with the Volunteer of the Year award. Photo by Elisabeth Strillacci

SALISBURY – Two people were honored at Monday night’s 10th annual Community Thanks dinner for volunteers and donors to the Community Care Clinic.

The organization presents two awards annually: the Volunteer of the Year Award and the Fred and Alice Stanback Silent Angel Award.

Entering its 30th year of operation, the Community Care Clinic provides free primary care, dental care and pharmacy services to uninsured adults in Rowan County. Part of the clinic’s goal is to divert patients who would otherwise seek help on their own away from the emergency room because they have no other options. Over the past year, the clinic is estimated to have saved Novant Health Rowan Medical Center approximately $4 million by diverting patients to the clinic for care.

Dr. Amy Wilson, medical director of the clinic, is certified in Lifestyle Medicine and spoke to guests at the dinner about the “innovative way to practice medicine and reverse chronic disease.” The clinic offers Wellness Wednesdays in the lobby, including taste testing for a healthier diet and activities for a healthier lifestyle. Wilson invited a Wellness Wednesdays volunteer to share his story, not just about his work at the clinic, but about how the clinic impacted his entire life.

“I’m alive because of this clinic,” said Andy Basinger. He described a trip to the beach where he burned the bottom of his feet and then practiced self-care rather than seeking medical treatment because he had no insurance. Finally, he said his girlfriend made him find a clinic. Wilson, he said, told him that every level of every lab test they ran “was bad. But back then I still drank a pint of whiskey every day and smoked half a pack of cigarettes.” Ultimately, he developed an infection in one of his toes and had to have it amputated. During recovery, he decided it was time to change his life, with the help of Lifestyle Medicine and guidance from Wilson.

“I expanded to Medicaid, but the clinic asked if I wanted to come back and volunteer on Wellness Wednesdays, and about every other week I’m there,” he said.

Basinger wanted to take a seat, but Wilson asked him to stay and then asked Mike Fuller, a board member who had been involved with the clinic from the beginning, to join her in presenting Basinger with the Volunteer of the Year award.

“You are truly inspiring to all of us at the clinic, and now to our patients, with whom you share your recipes and your story,” Wilson said. “I would like to say that the hard work you have put in to regain your health is impressive and we were and are honored to be part of your team.”

The clinic’s executive director, Krista Woolly, took a moment to ask that the staff present at the dinner be recognized, then called Debbie Hill, the clinic’s dental coordinator, to the podium to assist with the awards of the Silent Angel Prize.

“As usual, it was surprising that this award winner was difficult, and perhaps a few white lies were told to make this presentation possible and I apologize,” Woolly said.

She explained that when Gordon Hurley’s wife, Carolyn, died in 2021, he wanted to do something to honor her. Carolyn was a teacher and community activist, always helping others, and Gordon wanted to continue that in her name. Woolly said he talked to his neighbor, Frank Eason, about an idea about dental care for patients.

“Many of our patients come to us because they have never seen a dentist or haven’t seen one in years,” Woolly says. “Our dental staff will tell you that plaque buildup can be enormous and that after brushing their teeth, the best way to keep teeth and gums healthy is to use an electric toothbrush every day. The problem is that we can buy hundreds of regular toothbrushes for the price of one electric one.”

She said thanks to Gordon, all eligible patients have had the opportunity to have an electric toothbrush for the past three years. Since then, dental staff have reported that patients who use these toothbrushes return with better overall oral hygiene.

“You do so much in this community and you have done so for many, many years,” Woolly said. “Your spirit of philanthropy and love for your neighbor is to be commended.”

“I don’t deserve it, but I thank you,” said Gordon, who received a standing ovation.

Woolly then thanked all of the dinner’s sponsors, including F&M Bank, Novant Health, Catawba College and Shari Graham and Henderlite’s Party Peeps.

Three board members who resigned this year were also recognized and thanked for their efforts. The co-chairs of the council, Dr. Brett Hanson and Fran Misner, both served on the board as the clinic weathered COVID-19, and “helped us stay on track and supported our efforts when we weren’t sure we could continue any longer.” said Woolly.

The third board member to leave this year is Enid Rodriguez, who filled the seat on the board reserved for a current patient.

“This model serves us well as we make policy and procedural decisions that ultimately impact patients to some extent,” Woolly said. “Enid is the founder of the board’s ‘Thoughtfulness Committee’, a committee that elevates and celebrates the milestones in staff lives.”

Rodriguez said she saw the clinic both as a patient, taking advantage of all the clinic had to offer, and as a board member.

“I want to thank you all for your support of an organization that works miracles every day,” she said. “My health has improved by 120 percent and I can now be more productive and positive. You changed my life and the lives of so many other deserving people.”