Free Medical Service is offered every Saturday, from 9am-12pm

For the last four years, Ysleta Lutheran Mission Human Care (YLM) and the Rotary Club of El Paso have partnered to offer free medical care Saturday mornings for people without healthcare insurance.  The RotaCare Clinic, located in the middle of the YLM campus at 301 S. Schutz in El Paso, TX, is managed and staffed by doctors, nurses and medical students from the Texas Tech University Health Science Center (TTUHSC).  Through this partnership, people have been receiving quality healthcare offered with kindness and compassion by the medical professionals involved.

On September 21^st, the TTUHSC dedicated time and personnel during the morning food distribution hours to give something simple, yet so crucial, to the people who came seeking assistance from YLM –information on their nutrition and its impact on cancer prevention.  Ten minute informational sessions were held in YLM’s Dining Hall in between registering to pick up food baskets along with bread, fresh fruit and milk.

Sylvia Rangel shared basic information to over 200 individuals

“Acts of kindness is not just about giving tangible things to those in need,” Rev Dr. Karl Heimer, CEO of YLM and senior pastor at San Pablo Lutheran Church, explained, “It’s about helping them reach a better quality of life.  When it comes to health, information and education can be the most powerful tools a person can be given.”

YLM has a long-standing history of working with community-oriented organizations in an effort to bring information and education to the surrounding community of Ysleta.  From offering English as a Second Language classes to fitness instruction for seniors, YLM works with partners to fulfill their mission of changing lives through simple acts of kindness.

“Many times, people just need to be made aware of what is offered within their community,” Heimer pointed out as chairs filled up with a new group of people, “While they’re here, we invite organizations to come to the community –from inviting organizations to participate in our Annual Health Fair to opening our campus for the RotaCare to host their own Health Fair.”

These short sessions gave people an initial insight to nutrition and its importance for a healthy life.  Sylvia Rangel, the TTUHSC educator, expressed an eagerness to host in-depth classes at YLM for those interested in learning more.

“People need to know what’s out there in their city to help them,” Pastor Heimer smiled as he watched people look through their information packets given out by Ms. Rangel, “It’s why we welcome organizations who reflect our mission of changing lives every day through simple acts of kindness.”