24 Aug The 7th Biennial Gospel & Gumbo Fundraiser planned for October 1, 2017

By Katie King-katie@ewbullock.com

September 14, 2017 –Pensacola, Fl—The seventh biennial Gospel & Gumbo fundraising event to benefit the Michael E. Green Prescription Fund for St. Joseph Medical Clinic will be held on Sunday, Oct. 1, from 4 to 7 p.m. at 511-Event Hosting in downtown Pensacola.

The event raises money to help cover the prescription drugs and laboratory costs for Our Lady of Angels St. Joseph Medical Clinic.

The community is invited to help raise funds for the clinic’s much needed medical assistance by attending this year’s Gospel & Gumbo event.

Participants in this year’s Gospel & Gumbo will be able to sample gumbos donated by Erika Thomas of J’s Bakery & Café, Dan Dunn of H2O Cajun Asian Grill, Gus Silivos of Skopelos at New World, Greg Rodriguez of The Wine Bar, MariCarmen Josephs of Carmen’s Lunch Bar, Judy Lewis of Judy Lewis Catering, Blake Rushing of Union Public House, Jason Perry of Jackson’s Steakhouse, David Penniman of Classic City Catering and George Artisan Bakery and Bistro. Complimentary wine and beer will also be served at the event. Lewis Bear Co. is providing the beer, and wine and drinks will be offered compliments of Seville Quarter Wine & Gift Shoppe, Artesana, The Bottle Shop on Baylen, The Wine Bar, Apple Market, and Wine World.

Enjoy familiar gospel hymns sung by the St. Joseph Catholic Church Choir. Plus, the Jeff Glickman Band and Infusion will both be adding their own blend of sounds to the Gospel & Gumbo pot.

The event will also include a silent auction featuring everything from fine jewelry and artwork, to a Scott Clark fishing trip, to a ladies brunch at Teri Levin’s lovely Artesan home.
The cost of the event is $100 per person, payable to Our Lady of Angels. $1,000 sponsorships are also encouraged and offer an opportunity to invite 10 friends or employees to join you at the event.

Longtime supporter Millie Green of Pensacola started the Michael E. Green Prescription Fund to honor her late husband, who died in 2003. Green has been instrumental in helping to organize and champion the Gospel & Gumbo biennial charity fundraiser.

“Mike loved St. Joseph and would be thrilled knowing that its patients are leaving the clinic with the medicines that they need,” she said. “I knew when we started this it was going to benefit a lot of people. But I had no idea how much joy it would bring me.”

In its 12-year existence, more than $375,000 has been raised for non-narcotic prescription drugs and laboratory costs.

“Our primary expense is for prescription drugs, and from anybody’s standard, this fund has been tremendously helpful,” adds Dr. David Conkle, a retired heart surgeon and the Medical Director for St. Joseph Clinic.
 

About St. Joseph Medical Clinic

The community walk-in clinic was established in 2002 by a small group of local physicians and parishioners. Its mission is to provide medical and dental services for uninsured, low-income patients in Escambia County.

“By 2001, I became concerned about the growing number of people in our community who did not have health care because of their inability to afford it,” said Dr. Conkle. “With those thoughts, I went to St. Joseph Catholic Church and with the help of the congregation and Bishop John Ricard, we opened St. Joseph Medical Clinic in the spring of 2002.”

The clinic remains staffed entirely by a volunteer group of doctors, dentists, nurses, social workers and administrative personnel. The clinic’s financial support comes from the community and from charitable donations.“We waited three weeks before our first patient arrived in 2002,” said Conkle. “And this year, we’ve cared for more than 4,400 patients.”

Our Lady of Angels St. Joseph Medical Clinic is open four days per week:

• Monday – 7 a.m. to noon — Metabolic Clinic
• Tuesday and Thursday – 7 a.m. to noon
• Wednesday – 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

St. Joseph Clinic by the numbers (July 1, 2016 to June 30, 2017):

• Total medical patient visits 4,440
• Total dental patient visits 443
• Total number of patient visits 4,883
• Total active licensed health care providers 84
• Total licensed health care provider volunteer hours            8,692.5
• Dollar value of services for licensed providers             $1,116,887.50
• Total number of general staff volunteers 30
• Total general staff volunteer hours 4,072
• Total value of services for general staff volunteers $98, 298.08
• Total value of services $1,215,185.58
• Total Department of Health volunteers 9
• Total Department of Health volunteer hours 2,703
• Dollar Value of DOH volunteers $65,250.42

CORRECTION: The original release forgot to include Lewis Bear Co. as a contributor. Complimentary beer will be served at the event, provided by Lewis Bear.

For more information on Gospel & Gumbo, go to www.pensacolagospelandgumbo.com or contact Millie Green at mhg@cox.net.