There's something in all of us that wants to see someone less fortunate smile.
We came to Flagstaff in 1963.
We practiced in a very small town in Virginia.
And we decided that it was time for us to search out a permanent place to practice.
And we made a trip with the trailer and three kids headed to Flagstaff.
We were on our way and we made a decision that this was a really fine place to settle.
So we did.
We came in 1963 and Dr. Poore started his practice at that time.
And then we had four more children.
I'm Eric Walden.
I'm the executive director of the Poore Medical Clinic.
We're a non-profit organization here in Flagstaff, Arizona, providing primary medical and dental
care to residents of Coconino County who have no insurance and who are living at 200 percent
of the federal poverty level or below.
When you hear the stories of some of the people who are patients, it grabs you.
And the fact that you can do something about it is amazing.
And I think that's why people enjoy working here.
It's just saying, we care about you.
We have 18 doctors, over 20 nurses, eight dentists, 15 hygienists and dental assistants
who volunteer their time in services to provide professional medical and dental care to the
people in this community who can't afford it.
There's nothing more rewarding than having a patient come in and be able to complete
his treatment.
There's no fee, there's no charge, there's no insurance.
It is probably one of the best jobs I have ever had in my life.
We have our once a year fundraiser, which has been terrific.
Our signature fundraising event every year, which is called Beans and Rice, which we do
at the Orpheum Theatre in September, and that is a significant fundraiser.
That is 100 percent volunteer driven.
The idea came from Tony Norris.
He thought we should do some kind of show that was geared towards flagstaff.
Go 375, I would if I were you, and you'd have it at 400, 400.
She doesn't waste her time bedding as you get that card up there just like that.
We are 100 percent supported by the community, and that's how we pay for the care that we
give.
We raised a considerable amount of money this year, which is going to help us through this
next year until the next one.
Everyone who was there should feel proud because by buying a ticket they were part of the clinic,
so they have a stake in the clinic.
The biggest impact his passing had on the clinic was an emotional impact.
People who knew him loved him, always, his patients have always loved him, and the patients
that he had seen here loved him, and the staff loved him.
So it was a loss in that respect, but everyone was committed to him to keep it going.
And several people had said to me, well, you're going to close the clinic, and I said, oh,
no, no way are we going to close it.
That would be the worst thing for his memory to close it, and so we just carried on just
like he was here.
We have a book where people have signed over the years and written little comments, and
there's one in there that I've never gotten over, and it said, I felt looked after.
It's been a long time, and I can't say that without tearing, because that's the way it
is with a lot of our patients.
We aren't often in that position to be able to lift them up personally as a gift.
