Demand for free clinic assistance increases this year

‘Fantasy in White’

MERCI Clinic Gala

Saturday, New Bern Riverfront Convention Center.

6:30 p.m. Cocktails, dinner, dancing and auctions.

Proceeds to the MERCI free clinic.

Tickets: $75 per person.

Call 252-633-1599 for information.

On the Web: MerciGala.com.

In 2008, the free MERCI Clinic recorded more than 6,700 patient visits and dispensed nearly 22,000 medications.

With two months remaining in 2009, record numbers for those categories are expected.

“We have exceeded all those (2008) numbers as you might expect with the unemployment and the loss of health insurance,” said Nancy Alexander, the clinic’s director.

“What is amazing to me is that we are able in some capacity to absorb all the new patients one way or another with the same infrastructure,” she said. “We have not hired anybody, and don’t have a huge influx of professional volunteers. But we have managed to take one patient at a time and do what we could to make sure they had some medication support, medical care, or referral.”

One of two major fundraisers for the clinic is Saturday, the annual gala at the New Bern Riverfront Convention Center.

“We have two major fundraisers for day-to-day operations and support,” Alexander said. “Across the board, nonprofit revenue has decreased and we are certainly experiencing that, and we just want everyone to realize that as a community clinic we rely on the support of the community.

Rita Alicandro, chairman of this year’s gala, said Monday that some tickets remain for the Saturday event, which includes dinner, dancing and fundraising auctions.

Alicandro said the event annually draws upwards of 400 people.

This year’s theme is “Fantasy in White.”

The activities are at the New Bern Riverfront Convention Center, with dinner, dancing and a live auction.

The evening begins with a 6:30 p.m. silent auction and cocktails.

The dinner is catered by Chef Smoke and the staff from The Flame restaurant.

A live auction will follow, along with live music by The Pizazz! band.

The live auction items include diamond hoop earrings, a one-week stay at Grand Cayman Condo, and an evening of dining at the home of Dr. Jim Congleton.

Silent auction items are listed on the gala Web site. There is a variety to choose from, ranging from dinners and gift certificates to area shops, to dancing lessons, airplane rides, trolley tours, auto repairs and electronics.

Tickets are $75 per person and reservations are required for the event. The dress is cocktail attire.

Realo Discount Drug Stores/Carolina Home Medical Inc. is the presenting sponsor.

MERCI Clinic is a community medical and dental clinic, primarily staffed by volunteers, and dedicated to caring for the uninsured adults in Craven, Jones and Pamlico counties.

The clinic is located at 1315 Tatum Drive in New Bern.

Charlie Hall can be reached at 252-635-5667 or chall@freedomenc.com.