Mercy Medicine Clinic began operations in October 1994 within the Manna House of Florence. The first clinic was staffed by physicians and registered nurses along with other volunteer support services. Mercy Medicine Clinic was founded as a free, Christian clinic to assist Florence and Dillon County patients who do not receive Medicaid or Medicare and cannot afford to pay for private insurance.

From the beginning, Mercy Medicine Clinic operated with a redemptive mission statement with three inclusive parts:

1. The clinic would provide, through the practice of Christian principles, free, quality medical care to the indigent and working poor residents of the Pee Dee region.

2. Under the guidance of the principle, that only as we serve do we foster self worth; the clinic would provide volunteers an opportunity for meaningful community service.

3. The clinic would provide a Christian example in the community.

The first clinic was held on Oct. 25, 1994. The Manna House Board of Directors voted to be the umbrella organization under which the clinic served. Initially, the clinic was under the oversight and jurisdiction of the Manna House board and staff. An advisory board was soon established to oversee the medical matters of the clinic.

The initial doctors serving in the clinic were Dr. N. B. Baroody, Dr. Earl Jones, Dr. Myers Hicks, Dr. Harry S. Allen Jr. and Dr. James Owen. The first volunteer nurses were Anne Fisher, Kim Lawson, Jean Floyd and Rosemary Jellison. Patients were seen on Tuesday mornings the first year of the clinic’s operation during which 420 patients were served. These numbers continued to grow rapidly along with clinic activity.

However, it was quickly realized that nearly all our patients could not afford to pay for their life-saving medications. We tried to remedy this by providing sample pharmaceuticals. Even so, it also became necessary for us to raise funds to pay for other medications. Additionally, to avoid the abuse of controlled substances, the board of Mercy Medicine Clinic passed a stipulation prohibiting the clinic from ordering or providing any such pharmaceuticals.

In 1998, the clinic was offered a much larger and more suitable office suite at Lighthouse Ministries, and temporarily worked under the supervision of that organization’s board. But it soon became obvious that this was not the best working arrangement and Mercy Medicine Clinic went on to become a separate entity with its own 501©(3) recognition and approval. An independent board of directors was elected after this was accomplished in January 2000. A constitution and bylaws were drawn up and subsequently approved by the board.

The first board members were Dr. Myers Hicks, chairman; Dr. N. B. Baroody, vice-chairman; Dr. Berry Monroe; Berta Allen, R.N.; Robin Stoupenos, R.N.; Vicki Wheelus; Malcolm Rogers, treasurer and Jerry Langston, pharmacy consultant.

The clinic’s current location at 514 South Dargan Street was obtained in 2004 when Carolinas Hospital System kindly offered a suite of offices to serve as the clinic’s new home. It didn’t take long for patient numbers and services to surge after the move. In the spring of 2004, the clinic expanded its services from strictly medical to the addition of retinal diagnosis and therapy, pharmacology, and dental services.

The Columbia Eye Clinic was the first to offer its expertise to run the retinal clinic once a month, and was also backed up by support from Stokes Regional Eye Center. Today, Stokes remains a vital part of the Retinal Clinic and continues to assist with the many patients who come to us for retinal care. The generosity of the Drs. Bruce and Lee Foundation made possible the purchase of the necessary camera and laser equipment. Approximately 140 patients were studied and treated during the first 90 days the new equipment was in service.

We completed our dental facility under the guidance of Dr. Thad Davis and Charles Grace III in 2005. This allows us to offer dental services such as treatments for pain and infection, as well as extractions, to indigent patients.

Kaye Allen was hired as executive director that August 2005. She has organized personnel and services in order to maximize effectiveness, efficiency and accountability.

A great challenge has been the demand imposed by Mercy’s explosive growth, which has prompted the need for salaried personnel and funding to provide free medicine to the indigent. The cost of medications provided during the past two years has averaged about $1 million annually.

A major milestone for Mercy Medicine Clinic was the creation of a satellite medical facility in Lake City. The Lake City Free Medical Clinic opened its doors on January 7, 2008 with the goal of providing primary medical care to the indigent and working poor of southern Florence County and neighboring Williamsburg County. Instrumental in helping get the clinic started were organizations and government entities such as the BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina Foundation, Florence County and the City of Lake City.

Today, as a member of the South Carolina Free Clinic Association, Mercy Medicine Clinic provides medical care to thousands of patients on an annual basis. During 2008, Mercy Medicine Clinic and Lake City Free Medical Clinic saw 2,637 patients and accommodated 5,199 patient visits. In addition to the provision of primary care, the Lake City clinic also features a non-dispensing pharmacy onsite. Mercy Medicine is just one of four free medical clinics in South Carolina that offers dental care and the only one with a fully equipped retinal facility. Most recently, the dental clinic has also begun to accommodate those patients in need of dentures.

Special thanks must be given to several benefactors who have made Mercy Medicine Clinic’s ministry possible. From the start, McLeod Regional Medical Center, Carolinas Hospital System and Pee Dee Pathology have provided lab and X-ray services to our patients. Practicing physicians have provided their services free of charge to patients who have been referred by the clinic. Residents in the McLeod Family Practice program also have helped by seeing patients in the clinic.

From the beginning, major donors have included the Drs. Bruce and Lee Foundation, Aiken Foundation, United Way of Florence County, BlueCross BlueShield Foundation of South Carolina, Mary Alice Ingram Busch, Pee Dee Electric Cooperative, Progress Energy, Junior League, as well as local churches, individuals, organizations and many other strongly sustaining financial supporters.