Body of Christ Community Clinic volunteers give the gift of medical, dental services to Bell County residents

By AMY ROGNLIE | Photos courtesy of BODY OF CHRIST COMMUNITY CLINIC

“God, please help my mom to smile again. She won’t smile because her teeth aren’t pretty.”

Thankfully, this prayer of a 7-year-old boy was answered by the staff at Body of Christ Community Clinic in east Bell County. The clinic has provided medical and dental care since 2010. As the staff realized the enormous need for dental care, a separate dental location was opened in 2016.

“Those who need dental care really have very few resources, and we are the only charity clinic in the area to help them. Some have not seen a dentist in years and have very serious issues,” clinic director Donna Dunn said. “We have had patients tell us that they have pulled their own tooth because of the pain.”

Body of Christ Community Clinic is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that provides medical and dental services to the uninsured who live below the 185% of the federal poverty income limits. Located in Belton, the clinic’s service area was originally defined as the indigent or underserved populations living in the Belton or Salado Independent School Districts because the churches in that area were the sources of funding.

As more churches became partners and the need for services grew, the board voted to expand to east Bell County. The clinic now serves adult patients from Rogers to Belton and Troy to Salado. In 2022, 2,534 patients received services, but their numbers have increased significantly since last year.

Financially supported by churches, individual donors and foundation grants, the organization does not charge for its services. It has a donation jar on the front desk and asks patients, if they are able, to make a donation of any amount. Grateful patients appreciate the opportunity to give back to the clinic and often put in any cash they have. One grateful dental client collects spare change in a baggie and brings it in to donate once a month.

“Sometimes those who have the least give the most,” Dunn said. Any donations received from patients go back into the clinic to help more patients. “We set the jar money aside to help patients with first-time prescriptions and things like glucose monitors and heart monitors.”

As a faith-based organization, Body of Christ Community Clinic seeks to meet the needs of the whole person, including spiritual needs. Bibles, devotionals and other resources are also available for patients.

“We must be mindful to pause and look at these folks and see them as God’s creations. Every person has worth,” Dunn said. “We are available if patients want us to pray with them, and consider it a great honor to do so.”

Potential patients must first meet with a social worker to determine eligibility based on their address and income level. Once approved, they can make appointments. The medical clinic has appointments for acute and chronic care, lab work, counseling, eye exams (for diabetic retinopathy and vision screening), diabetic education and prescription assistance. The dental clinic provides exams, X-rays, fillings, dental hygiene and simple extractions. For more complicated procedures, the clinic has partnerships with other clinics in the community that will accept referrals. The low- or no-income residents in the community who do not have health insurance would have to seek care from their local emergency facilities if Body of Christ Community Clinic was not in existence.

The clinics are staffed mainly by volunteers, including doctors, nurses, dentists, counselors and support staff. In addition, students interning at the VA Hospital in Temple work at the clinic once a week. Nurse Shirley LaTour has been volunteering at the clinic since 2011.

“I am here because I genuinely love people and to be able to give back to the community — that is my life blood,” LaTour said. “I love getting to meet people where there are … to be in the right place at the right time to be able to give someone hope.”

GET INVOLVED
Email: info@bodyofchristclinic.org
Medical Clinic: 2210-B Holland Road, Belton
Phone: 254-939-9500
Dental Clinic: 1508 Oleta St., Belton
Phone: 254-613-5052