TO RECOGNIZE AND CONGRATULATE ANDERSON FREE CLINIC ON THIRTY YEARS OF PROVIDING FREE MEDICAL CARE IN THE ANDERSON COMMUNITY AND TO WISH IT CONTINUED SUCCESS IN THE YEARS TO COME.

Whereas, the members of the House of Representatives are pleased to learn that Anderson Free Clinic will be celebrating its thirtieth year of providing free medical care in its community at an event in Anderson on January 22, 2015; and

Whereas, Anderson Free Clinic was "born" in 1984 in a little house in downtown Anderson on John Street near St. John's Methodist Church, when Dr. Harry Morse with a small team of volunteers served the clinic's first six patients; and

Whereas, in 1985, Anderson Free Clinic opened a pharmacy, which was divided between a walk-in closet and the kitchen pantry in the John Street house; and

Whereas, on March 18, 1989, Anderson Free Clinic held its first annual "Walk with the Docs" fundraiser. The clinic later would add a "Run with the Nurses" to the "Walk with the Docs" event; and

Whereas, in 1992, the clinic began to offer free dental services and would add free dental hygiene procedures in 2007, doubling the number of patients seen by the volunteer dentists; and

Whereas, in 1998, the Fant Street location was added with six medical exam rooms, three dental exam rooms, and one lab, to better serve the needs of those unable to afford medical care, and in 2002, a satellite clinic in Honea Path opened to serve rural Anderson County,; and

Whereas, in 2009, the clinic's first executive director, Maureen Sartini, retired after twenty-five years; and

Whereas, in 2010, Anderson Free Clinic hired its current executive director Barb Baptista who has navigated the clinic through many challenges resulting from the "great recession", including an increase in the need for free healthcare; and

Whereas, in 2012, the clinic's pharmacy dispensed more than 38,000 prescriptions, a volume comparable to or greater than many stand-alone pharmacies; and

Whereas, in 2013, Anderson Free Clinic applied for and achieved the level two certification from the South Carolina Free Clinic Association; and

Whereas, in 2014, Anderson Free Clinic added three new exam rooms increasing its capacity by thirty-three percent, and the clinic's dental services are now offered twelve to sixteen hours every week, including onsite root canal procedures. The clinic sees an increased number of young dentists volunteering; and

Whereas, each year more than 150 health care professionals and more than 200 community volunteers donate time at the Anderson Free Clinic. Seventy-five percent of the clinic's workforce is volunteers; and

Whereas, during 2014, Anderson Free Clinic served more than 2,000 patients, conducted over 5,500 medical visits, provided 1,646 dental procedures, dispensed nearly 37,000 prescriptions, and delivered over $4.5 million in services. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:

That the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, by this resolution, recognize and congratulate Anderson Free Clinic on thirty years of providing free medical services in the Anderson community and to wish it continued success in the years to come.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to Anderson Free Clinic's Executive Director Barb Baptista.