ASHLAND — The Ashland Christian Health Center hosted its ninth annual fundraising dinner Thursday night. The event featured remarks from the state director of the Charitable Healthcare Network and recognition of the volunteers and staff who keep the center running.
Jason Koma, the executive director of the Charitable Healthcare Network, explained to a crowd of 180 the importance of having free clinics in the state.
“Nobody likes being sick and going to the doctor,” Koma said. “Now, imagine doing that when you know you can’t afford it.”
The Ashland Christian Health Center has operated for 20 years in Ashland. It aims to meet the healthcare needs of Ashland County residents who are uninsured or underinsured.
The clinic offers low-cost and free doctors’ appointments, physical therapy, diabetes support and more to those who may otherwise struggle to pay. It also connects those in need with other social service agencies in Ashland that can offer help.
Many of the center’s needs are met thanks to donations and the work of volunteers. The annual fundraising dinner is one of the center’s largest fundraisers each year.
At the start of the evening, the center had raised over $40,000 — which Cheryl Benway, the executive director, said was record-setting. She told attendees that if the center reached $75,000 in donations, the Samaritan Hospital Foundation would offer $25,000 to meet the $100,000 threshold.
Koma, who started his job in August 2022, said Benway and Dr. Roger Snyder, the Ashland Christian Health Center’s medical director, offered a lot of support as he began his job.
It was one of the first centers he toured in the state, and Koma touts it as exemplary.
“Touring the center here set the standard for me of what care should look like around the state,” Koma said. He added those who visit are treated with dignity and hope.
‘Pay it forward’
The center runs with the help of medical and hospitality volunteers, who serve in a variety of roles. They act as receptionists, housekeeping, pharmacists and even complete outside work.
Benway, the center’s executive director, highlighted volunteers’ work in her comments Thursday night. The center has a small staff, but she said the demands would not be met without the help of volunteers.
Some have stepped up thanks to the care they received from the center themselves.
That’s the case for volunteers Bob and Elizabeth Bird.
The Birds moved to Ashland for Bob to take a new job. But according to Elizabeth, they struggled to find providers who would take their insurance at first.
Elizabeth, a retired registered nurse, said that struggle led them to the Ashland Christian Health Center.
Once they’d figured out their insurance challenges, they chose to give back to the center via volunteering.
“Having been in clinics and family practice, the care here is truly exceptional, and everyone who volunteers comes because they have a passion and desire to serve others,” Elizabeth said.
Sunny Riffle, another retired registered nurse, agreed with Elizabeth Bird. She volunteers twice a month. She said knowing people who need care receive love matters to her.
Holistic care
Misty Welch, the center’s director of nursing, told the audience their contributions — both of time and money — have real impacts. She shared the story of a young man who recently visited the center.
Welch said she was concerned when he arrived in a pair of Crocs without socks during the winter. He needed a physical for a job, but in the process of treating him, Welch and the center discovered he was homeless and living in his car.
The center aimed to help him with his housing situation. Welch had to ask him questions about addiction and his past, and found he was simply a young person who had fallen on rough times.
“He’s here, he’s in front of us and he’s making good choices,” Welch said. “And, he made the choice to come see us.”
Thanks to the efforts of volunteers who hand make blankets, hats and gloves for the center to give out, Welch said they sent him on his way with warm clothes and food, in addition to receiving medical care.
That’s the center’s mission in action, according to Welch. It all comes back to the belief that everyone deserves healthcare.
“We all have choices about what we give of ourselves — care, treasures, time,” Welch said.
The center will host its next fundraising event, “Chocolate & More,” on March 23 at Ashland Middle School. It will also have a new volunteer open house on Feb. 8. For more information, you can reach Cheryl Benway at cheryl@achcoh.org.
As the sponsor of Ashland Source's Life and Culture section, Brethren Care Village continues its commitment to enriching lives and promoting a vibrant community.
This independent, local reporting provided by our Report for America Corps members is brought to you in part by the generous support of the Ashland County Community Foundation.