Ed Brown’s Wharfside Gallery owners and artists Ed and Susan Brown are appealing for community support of Boothbay Region Health Center. Alarmed by news the 501(c)(3) nonprofit is at risk of closing, the Browns responded the only way they felt they could: with art.

The Browns said the past two summers have been hard for BRHC which relies on in-person-type fundraising; in a normal year, the Browns would donate prints and paintings to be auctioned off at a benefit. Instead, the artists pledged a 16-inch by 20-inch $100 canvas-wrapped photo print for every $1,000 donation and a $500 60-inch by 40-inch print for every $10,000 donation. The prints will be of the donor’s choosing, they said.

In a press release Aug. 16, BRHC stated it had raised 20% of its $900,000 goal while it relies on at least 40% coming from donations and grants. According to a BRHC newsletter Aug. 22, nearly $20,000 had been raised in addition to $102,002 in donations and $148,525 in grants, leaving a short term goal of $110,000. As of Aug. 31, an additional $31,500 was raised leaving about $78,000 in short-term needs.

“They sent out that email on Sunday … and it talked about how last summer we were a lucky region in the country and people were loving coming to Maine because we were a low risk area,” said Ed. “Then I get halfway down the letter and it says 'We almost had to close our doors' … I panicked, I thought 'What am I going to do?' It was a shock to me. It scared me.”

The Browns began seeing Dr. Nancy Oliphant in May 2010 when they moved to Maine seasonally and opened their gallery. When Oliphant’s office turned into BRHC under new management, the Browns stayed and said they could not have asked for better staff to step into Oliphant’s shoes. Susan said with St. Andrews Urgent Care no longer being a round-the-clock hospital, not having BRHC is a risk to the community. “The Center provides a really great service and if they were not here, there would be a lot of people without access to quality healthcare.”

BRHC President Patty Seybold said the board and all the staff are thrilled to have the Browns’ work benefit the center. “It's a win/win/win. The purchaser gains a beautiful piece of Boothbay Harbor, we get the financial support we need to stay open this winter and Ed is setting a great example for other local retailers about how to give forward!”

The Browns said they could not be happier using their art to support the region’s healthcare. BRHC represents more than just convenience for nearly 2,500 patients, the Center  provide a crucial point of access to healthcare for many who might not otherwise have it, said Susan. If not for the Center, the couple would not feel very safe, said Ed.

“These guys are local and they're wonderful, nice, available, smart,” said Ed. “I'm going to do whatever I can do and what I can do is art. I can give my art away for cash and I can give it to them and I'll gladly do it because I want this place to survive.”

For more information on how to donate through the Browns’ pledge, call 1-239-470-4504.

To make a general donation to BRHC, mail a checks to 185 Townsend Ave., Suite R, Boothbay Harbor, ME 04538 or visit https://boothbayhealthcare.org/how-to-donate/