MICHELLE WILLARD, Post Staff Writer
Posted: Sunday, September 13, 2009 7:04 am

As the nation debates health care and health insurance reform, one local organization is on the front lines, fighting to provide for every health-related need.

The United Way of Rutherford and Cannon Counties addresses health and health care issues by supporting partner agencies that target health care quality, lack of insurance and many, many other health care concerns.

“The agencies United Way partners with are essential to helping children and youth achieve their potential, promoting financial stability, improving people's health and helping to rebuild people's lives,” explained Holly Lane-Adreon, director of resource development for the United Way of Rutherford and Cannon Counties.

One way the United Way improves the health of the community is by supporting the Primary Care and Hope Clinic, which provides health care services for the uninsured of Rutherford County.

“With unemployment currently in double digits in our community many people are without health insurance and in need of assistance,” explained Lisa Terry, chief executive officer of the Primary Care and Hope Clinic.

Last year, the clinic saw, on average, 100 patients a day and helped around 20,000 uninsured patients with affordable health care.

“We are always grateful for all donations we receive allowing us the opportunity to carry out our mission,” Terry said. “We are now going into the flu season and this is creating an even greater challenge for those without heath insurance.”

But it’s not just those without health insurance that benefit from the United Way. The terminally ill also benefit through Alive Hospice.

“United Way of Rutherford and Cannon Counties helps Alive Hospice provide end-of-life care – pain and symptom management and emotional and spiritual support – to terminally ill patients and support to their families,” explained Jared Porter, media relations coordinator for Alive Hospice.

The nonprofit Alive Hospice supports families by providing grief-support services, like individual counseling for adults and children year-round, grief support groups for adults, and a summer day camp for bereaved children.

Its Murfreesboro office is located on Medical Center Parkway and provides in-home hospice care to patients and families facing any life-threatening illness with a life expectancy of six months in five counties: Rutherford, Bedford, Cannon, Coffee and DeKalb.

The United Way also helps those who are healthy stay that way by supporting the Mid-Cumberland Human Resource Agency, which administers programs like Meals-on-Wheels, the Homemaker Program and Ombudsman Program.

“MCHRA provides more than just the service being delivered. We are about helping the client in every way possible,” explained Jane Hamrick, executive director of MCHRA.

“Through our association with (United Way), we come in contact with many potential contributors who have volunteered to see what agencies do,” she continued. “By this association we become more knowledgeable about more services and benefits we can provide to our clients.”

And services like Meals-on-Wheels and the Homemaker Program help the elderly stay self-sufficient and independent for longer. The Ombudsman Program helps protect the elderly by advocating for nursing home residents.

These are just three of the 45 agencies and programs the United Way supports in Rutherford and Cannon counties with funds raised during its annual campaign, which this year has a goal of $2.8 million.

The agencies supported by the United Way “create long-lasting community change by addressing the underlying causes of the most significant issues by bringing people together from all across the community to tackle these issues,” Lane-Adreon said.

Michelle Willard can be contacted at 615-869-0816 or mwillard@murfreesboropost.com.

More info …
Primary Care & Hope Clinic, 615-893-9390
Alive Hospice, 615-327-1085 or toll-free 1-800-327-1085
MCHRA, 615-331-6033