Stories

In these crazy times, $50 goes a long way. We did some math. $50 could buy you: 

• A Standard Netflix subscription to binge-watch your favorite shows for 3.85 months (Stretch the dollar even further with a Disney+ subscription for 7.14 months) 

• An Amazon Prime subscription to aid in retail therapy 

• A take-out meal for two from a local Charlotte restaurant (don’t forget to tip!)

• A sponsored visit for a patient in need at a Care Ring clinic.  

Did you catch that last one? Hold that thought. First, some context. In addition to skyrocketing streaming popularity, COVID-19 has dramatically increased unemployment, creating a huge need for accessible and affordable medical care. That’s where Care Ring steps in. 

As people on the margins are being pushed further into financial distress, Care Ring is pushing forward to offer their historically low-cost clinic services at zero-cost during this time to eliminate barriers to care. In response to COVID-19, Care Ring has implemented telehealth consults, as the majority of our patients have underlying health conditions, making them high risk for complications from COVID-19. Incorporating telehealth into their services have increased the number of patients they are caring for each day. They also continue to see patients in-person as clinically needed or for new patients. 

In addition to their low-cost clinic, Care Ring offers several programs that are still up and running. 

The Physicians Reach Out program continues to coordinate care for thousands of patients remotely. We are connecting patients to specialty care who have urgent needs and have provided extensions on annual renewal for our current clients.

The Nurse-Family Partnership (NFP) is also continuing to serve all families through phone and video telehealth capabilities, including enrolling new families completely remotely. NFP is also making food, diaper and other baby essential deliveries to families

Care Ring has also implemented emergency food delivery for all of its clients, while actively making referrals to longer-term food support from their partner, Loaves & Fishes. If you want to learn more about that service, Care Ring staff member Erika McCloud was recently interviewed by WSOC-TV as she was picking up food to be delivered to our clients in need.

If it hasn’t become clear yet, Care Ring has been hard at work keeping necessary medical care available for all Charlotteans, regardless of their financial situation. But they need the community’s support to continue providing these services. Remember the $50 we talked about earlier? Well, donations are the absolute best way to support Care Ring right now. And, for every $50 donated to Care Ring, you can sponsor one visit for a patient in a Care Ring clinic, whether that’s an essential in-person visit or over the phone.  

If you want to do something more, individuals and families can create care packages for Care Ring’s clients and staff to show their support, and drop them off at our building where they will be gratefully received. Their Amazon Wish List provides an opportunity to purchase necessary items that will be shipped directly to their building. 

To close out this article, here is a note from Care Ring’s Executive Director, Don Jonas Ph.D., “Every day at Care Ring we see disparities in health care impacting far too many people, and with the arrival of COVID-19, these disparities have gotten worse. I am passionate about establishing a Charlotte region that works for everyone. But currently, there are tens of thousands of our neighbors lacking access to affordable, excellent primary, and specialty care. Far too many of our moms and their babies lack access to the family support they need to move their lives on a path toward prosperity. I do this work with Care Ring with a grateful heart for the passion and service excellence provided every day by our staff.” 

Join Care Ring in empowering individuals with limited resources to establish and maintain good health by donating today. 

DID YOU KNOW: Care Ring is in the running to win $5K this month thanks to the Amy and Brian France Foundation who have partnered with SHARE Charlotte for this year’s Spotlight Series and YOU can help when you VOTE NOW! You can also check out the other organizations eligible to win this month’s prize, here!