New Moab Free Health Clinic (MFHC) executive director Beth Joseph is finding creative ways to promote the nonprofit.
This weekend, a benefit concert will take place at Club Rio on Monday, Aug. 18 at 8 p.m. The event will feature raffle prizes – including gift certificates to local businesses – and three live bands: The Rogue Assets, The Shenanigans and solo act Jon O.
This is an adults-only event, but Joseph said there are many more family-friendly events to come. Joseph encourages people to come out and have fun.
”This is a chance for everyone to get together and celebrate everything we’ve accomplished this past year,” she said. “I want to see the friends of the clinic out and having fun.”
Scott Ibex, band member of The Shenanigans, played at last year’s benefit concert and wants to do it again this year. This will be The Shenanigans’ debut performance. The band is looking forward to performing the music it has been working on for the past few months. They say it’s fun, energetic and genre-bending.
“Personally, the Moab Free Health Clinic is one of my favorite charities in town,” Ibex said. “People should go to the fundraiser to help the clinic, which continues to be a great community resource, and to support local artists.”
Jon Olschewski, locally known as Jon O, will be performing a special, live looping show for the benefit concert. He performs blues, funk, and rock music.
“Music is a labor of love,” he said. “Combining community events with music is important.”
The Rogue Assets will also be providing entertainment with their mix of rock and blues. The band has played locally for a few years and got its name because of the varying musicians that play with the band. Playing at the benefit concert will be Glenn Sherrill, Lisa Justice, Sam Wainer and Eric Jones.
The MFHC is a nonprofit organization that relies on volunteer doctors and nurses to provide non-urgent health care to uninsured and underinsured patients. In its sixth year of operation, the MFHC provides primary-care services, such as general care and mental health services; and specialty care services, such as pediatrics care, women’s health services and podiatry care. Joseph has been director for one month and is proud of what the clinic provides. She is excited for its future.
“We’ve been open since 2008 and we’ve been really growing a lot,” Joseph said. “We really want to focus on strengthening the great programs we already have.”
The MFHC has done a lot in the past year. Staff have helped a lot of people sign up for the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and saved people over $30,000 in prescription medication through their Prescription Assistance Program (PAP). Joseph said that’s more than double last year’s total.
The clinic treats a wide variety of patients, and for those it can’t treat, it helps them find other low-cost alternatives. Joseph said most patients that come in have acute sicknesses like strep throat, or bites and stings. The clinic also helps a lot of people with diabetes.
The clinic is currently looking to expand its services to the area’s Spanish-speaking population.
“We hope to have a bilingual nurse that can help with patient outreach and patient care,” Joseph said. “This is definitely the biggest priority.”
The money collected at the fundraiser will help the clinic cover lab fees and the costs of medical equipment and supplies. Joseph stressed the importance of being able to continue providing health care for uninsured and underinsured patients.
“This will really help us keep our doors open so we can continue to help the community,” she said.
“This is a chance for everyone to get together and celebrate everything we’ve accomplished this past year. I want to see the friends of the clinic out and having fun.”
What: Benefit concert for the Moab Free Health Clinic (adults only)
When: Monday, Aug. 18, 8 p.m.
Where: Club Rio, 2 S. 100 West
Cost: Free, Donations gratefully accepted
Three bands to perform with diverse musical styles
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