A Samaritan’s Purse community medical outreach in Marshall, North Carolina, provides care to underserved residents.
For about two years now, Debbie King, a great-grandmother, hasn’t been able to get the right glasses to correct her declining eyesight. The Marshall, North Carolina, resident has been using her uncle’s glasses, and her vision has only gotten worse.
Many Marshall residents visited our clinic for eye exams and prescription glasses.
Last week, though, she was amazed by how well she could see with the right prescription. At the Samaritan’s Purse community medical outreach held at a local high school, she received new glasses and was also surprised by volunteers who showed God’s love through quality care.
“I’ve really been blown away by how loving to me people are,” Debbie said, thanking God for “sending me up here. For the people that have helped me and the things that I’ve seen, and how nice everybody’s been.”
Our weekend clinic held in a high school gymnasium included free dental, vision, and medical exams for local residents in Marshall, an area hit hard by Hurricane Helene.
During the June 21-22 event our team provided 244 underserved people with free medical, dental, and eye care. This mountain community is located in a medical desert—an area where the number of healthcare professionals per capita is extremely low. Even scheduling an appointment for a checkup is daunting.
About 120 Samaritan’s Purse volunteers and staff representing 18 states came to serve the area, many arriving hours before dawn to set up the clinic. Local churches helped provide food and also sent volunteer teams to help with logistics.
Elaine Boggess, an ICU nurse, came from California with husband, Bill, to volunteer their time.
Volunteers Bill and Elaine Boggess flew in from California, where Elaine had worked as an ICU nurse. It was an opportunity for the two of them to serve together and to provide care for people who could not afford it. Elaine also wanted relieve the anxiety some of them had about healthcare.
“You’re not just a nurse,” she said. “You’re a family counselor, you’re a minister … plus a shoulder to grieve on too.”
In addition to medical workers, pastors were also there throughout the two-day clinic caring for residents and connecting them to good local churches.
Medical Care and Gospel Opportunities
Nicholas Pittman was one patient who was blessed by the ministry of these pastors. He’d come for glasses but left with a church ready to walk alongside him.
Nicholas Pittman prays with a member of the team. Staff and volunteers prayed with and ministered to patients during their time at the clinic.
“I got tired of squinting,” Pittman said. “It’s been two years since I’ve had a pair of glasses.”
Later he shared that he had struggled with addiction and, until recently, had been disconnected from his extended family.
At the event he met Shane Cassida, a pastor from a nearby town, who invited him to church where he could be mentored by other members of the congregation. “He’s going to try to get me involved with some guys that are having groups. I’m trying to get to a place in my life where I’m walking a positive life and doing the righteous thing.”
Clean for more than a year, Pittman was excited to join with a group of Christian men willing to help support his steps.
Deborah Gibbs cares for her great-niece as her sister goes into the clinic for dental care.
“It’s not just about coming and meeting the physical needs,” said Pastor Cassida, who’d invited a number of his church members to volunteer. “That’s obviously a big part of this. Of course, you would want to meet the physical needs of the people that are here, but if we’ve not been able to share a way for them to know more about Jesus Christ, then we’ve left an opportunity on the table.”
Hope in the Wake of Grief
In the waiting area outside the medical tent, Deborah Gibbs’ great-niece was asleep in her lap. She was waiting for her sister to finish up her dental work.
Deborah is encouraged by our team as she waits for her sister. Patients experienced the love of God through our medical team and through volunteers serving in Jesus’ Name.
Over the past couple years, Deborah has lost two brothers to cancer. Now her sister is suffering with dementia and receiving care from our dental team.
Deborah said that she felt the presence of God at the clinic and experienced more energy and joy than she has in a long time. She described the blessing of having God’s people care for the men and women in her community. Many in Marshall are still rebuilding their lives in the wake of Hurricane Helene.
“He has restored so much today spiritually,” she said.
