On behalf of all the patients who have benefited from the services provided by the Schenectady Free Health Clinic, I would like to say a public thank you to everyone who in any manner enabled us to provide free health services to thousands of uninsured residents of Schenectady County over the past 10 years.
It goes without saying, that the volunteer physicians, nurses and other staff were the heart and soul of the clinic. Thousands of donors, large and small, provided the money from year to year to allow the clinic to continue to exist.
With the downturn in the economy and our loss of state funding, the funds needed to continue our operation have become impossible to secure, forcing the announcement that the clinic will close at the end of July. With the commitment from Ellis Medicine and Hometown Health all of our patients will be able to receive care after we close.
Our financial situation has been especially difficult over the last four years. The community owes a special "thank you" to the following for their extraordinary support during this period: Price Chopper Pharmacy, Sunmark Federal Credit Union and the County of Schenectady. Without their support we would have been forced to close several years earlier.
With the continuing care of our patients assured, the board of directors and our volunteers feel positive and proud of the 10 years of service to our community.
William P. Spolyar
Executive Director, Schenectady Free Health Clinic
Schenectady