Good sign
VIMCare — formerly known as Volunteers in Medicine — helped about 1,780 patients from Bartholomew County in its first year in a new, larger location (Columbus Regional Hospital’s former emergency room space) and under a new business model. It helped about 1,400 a year previously.
That increase is a good sign for the nonprofit clinic’s capabilities, and for the uninsured seeking health care and Medicaid patients enrolled in the state’s HIP 2.0 health care program. Previously the agency served the uninsured, but the new model opens VIMCare’s doors to 7,000 newly eligible Medicaid patients in the county.
Health care is a big concern for many local residents who struggle to afford it. VIMCare provides a lifeline. Knowing that the clinic is able to serve more residents is reassuring.
Significant help
Kudos to Columbus-based Toyota Forklifts for assisting with Hurricane Harvey relief efforts.
The donation is a combined effort from Toyota Industries Corp., Toyota Material Handling USA, Toyota Industrial Equipment and Toyota Commercial Finance and their employees, who also contributed to the corporate donation, company officials said.
The company is making a corporate donation of $50,000, and initiating a dollar-for-dollar match gift for all donations generated at the local Toyota facilities that will support Toyota employees in the Houston area.
The money will support an affected forklift dealership employees and the south Texas community as a whole, including the American Red Cross.
That help certainly will be appreciated by a community and its residents that suffered great devastation and loss.
Thoughtful donations
Generous actions can do wonders for lifting the spirits of people. Recently, an anonymous benefactor, the Columbus Police Department and the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department demonstrated that.
They worked together to help an ill mother of three get bikes for her boys as gifts. The mother, Naomi Pruitt, has been sick with Lyme disease and the autoimmune disorder scleroderma and unable to work. A flat tire on the mother’s bike and chance encounter with the benefactor led to discussions about purchasing a used bike for her middle son’s birthday. Instead, the benefactor approached the law enforcement agencies about helping to surprise the family with bikes for all three boys.
That made for a moment of pure joy for the family when the bikes were presented. All because of great care for others demonstrated.
