Commonwealth Health Foundation is offering people the chance to remember, honor or celebrate loved ones and help others in need with the “Make the Season Bright” program.
“ ‘Make the Season Bright’ is an event we have every year on the campuses of The Medical Center in Bowling Green, Scottsville and Franklin. The highlight is the lighting of special trees for the holiday season,” said Laura Holderfield, executive director of the Commonwealth Health Foundation. “Individuals purchase lights to remember your loved ones, honor a loved one or celebrate a birth. It’s all about honoring or remembering your loved ones during the holiday season.”
The Medical Center lighting ceremonies will be at 5:30 p.m. Dec. 2 in Bowling Green, Dec. 7 in Franklin and Dec. 9 in Scottsville. All ceremonies begin inside the hospital, and the tree lighting will happen briefly outside. The evenings will include refreshments, live holiday music and a visit from Santa.
Types of lights available include star lights for a donation of $100 or more, green lights for $50, red lights for $25 and white lights for $10. The deadline to reserve lights is Nov. 26. All proceeds benefit the Commonwealth Health Free Clinic, which offers medical services to the working uninsured and discounted dental care to patients who don’t have private pay dental insurance.
Last year, “Make the Season Bright” raised $15,000 for the Free Clinic, Holderfield said.
“The gift you’re giving during the holiday season is to help someone who’s in need,” she said.
The Free Clinic’s medical program is celebrating its 15th year, clinic Executive Director Carla Reagan said.
“It’s almost entirely volunteer driven – doctors and pharmacists,” she said.
Dental services were available when the clinic first opened and were also volunteer driven. The dental program became full time with the addition of the dental team that was formerly at Fairview Community Health Center. It offers low-cost dental care for the uninsured on a sliding fee scale.
“Most patients are paying $10 to $20 per service,” Reagan said. “It gives them ownership in services they’re receiving and encourages them to take care of themselves.”
Donors help keep the Free Clinic operating, Reagan said.
“The Free Clinic is a worthy cause,” she said.
Free Clinic hours are 5 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday walk-in for the medical clinic and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday by appointment only for the dental clinic.
— For more information about “Make the Season Bright,” call 745-1543 or visit www.commonwealthhealthfoundation.org.
