The good news is that the Boothbay Region Health Center's campaign to "Save Your Community Health Center"raised $31,500 in two weeks towards the $110,000 needed to fund operations this autumn. Donations have come in from 66 individuals and 17 businesses. This rapid response from community members has been encouraging to the staff of the Health Center. But we still have a long way to go.

Last year, the Boothbay Region Health Center provided $380,000 worth of unreimbursed primary health care to residents and visitors. Like many local non-profits, the community health center needs to raise 40% of its $900,000 budget from grants and donations each year. This year to-date, the local independent community non-profit has raised $102,002 in donations and $148,525 in grants. But that still leaves a gap of $110,000 to break even for the year.

We're hoping that year-round and seasonal families and businesses value the convenient, affordable, high quality primary care (including same day care) that we provide in the Meadow Mall 6 days/week.

Despite the pandemic, we have stayed open and served 2,500 patients of all ages with conditions varying from Alzheimer's to arthritis, from cancer to COPD, from depression to dementia, from herpes to hypertension, from lupus to lyme disease, from sore throats to sinusitis, from ulcers to urinary tract infections, and much more. We provide pediatric care, women's health, geriatrics, psychiatric mental health and social work. We also offer two very popular and low-cost/break-even lifestyle change Wellness programs with over 60 participants combined: our Fit, Flexible & Strong exercise program for seniors (now entering its sixth year) and our Reverse Cognitive Decline research program (in its second year).

If you value the convenience of high-quality primary care and psychiatric mental health services on the Boothbay peninsula and want to be sure this resource is sustained, please make a generous donation to help us keep our doors open. Mail donations to Boothbay Region Health Center, 185 Townsend Ave., Suite R, Boothbay Harbor, ME 04538, call 633-1075 during office hours (M-F 8-4:30; Sat: 10-4) to donate via credit card, or donate online at Boothbayhealthcare.org