CATHERINE'S CARE CARRYING ON

As I have collected information about the recent decision of Saint Mary's hospital to terminate its funding of Catherine's Care Center -- a community clinic located on the northeast side of town open to all regardless of ability to pay -- I encountered the persistent rumor that it will now be closing its doors.  Let me reassure you, folks:  Catherine's Care Center is open and will remain open.

Although the loss of Saint Mary's support will be a hardship for the clinic, the people behind it are dedicated to keeping it open as they look for new sponsors.  The mission of Catherine's Care Center is a worthy one because it helps those patients who fall through cracks and have no other medical facility to turn to.  If you'd like to help, even a small amount makes a difference, you can send a check or money order to Catherine's Care Center at 205 Carrier Street N.E., Grand Rapids, Michigan 49505.  The clinic is program of the Creston Neighborhood Association, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, and so your contributions will be tax deductible.

Comments

[Andy Postema]

I believe you when you write that Catherines Care Center is a good cause taking care of people noone else is. But is it a good idea for a newsite to solicit donations for it?

Andy

[The Editor]

Hello Andy...

Thanks for spending some time reading the LAW web site. We always appreciate the comments and suggestions of our readers and take the time to respond in kind.

We truely care about this community and want to see the best for it and all of the citizens located here. Our goal is to not only identify those in the community who are doing illegal, illicit and harmful things but, also to praise and support those that keep this community a helpful and kind place.

As Editor of the web site, I would like to respond to your feedback to the Catherine's Care Center issue.

You specifically ask, "Is it a good idea for a news site to solicit donations for CCC?"

We feel strongly that every person must have good mental and physical health to perform at their maximum ability. Without good health, the rest of one's life can easily deteriorate. CCC performs an important service that no other clinic or hospital does in this region -they help EVERYONE and ANYONE regardless of race, color, creed, family or financial status. It's hard to put a restriction on such open ended health care service. Those in true need clearly identify with this. Those of us with health care can only begin to understand the stress others go through who have few places to turn - especially when important medical issues arise. CCC is there at those times.

We would not have needed to put in a request to the community to contribute to a good cause if funding sources who committed to this originally remained in place. But...those sources pulled out and left a sound establishment in a very tough spot. Close the doors and turn the needy away or...keep fighting for what is right. The fight continues fortunately.

Our suggesting to the community that there is another valuable and worthwhile place to put a public donation is not out of line for our public web site. Since American's generosity is well known and has been on the rise the last few years...there is no reason not to recommend another option for people who wish to donate. At least a donation here truely benefits the local community at large and people know who and what their dollars are going toward. You can even visit the site for tours to see how your dollars are spent - how many other donation centers allow that?

It's all about choice to do as one's conscience dictates and kindness to those less fortunate and giving even when it's not easy to do so.

Those who do not wish to contribute, do not have to.

Those who are interested have another option open to them.

Thanks for your thoughts.

It's always appreciated. Keep in touch...

Regards,

Bridget Dupont-Tingley
Editor - L.A.W.

[The Executive Director]

Hi, Andy.

I'd like to add to our editor's comments. At Local Area Watch we do not maintain the pretense that we do not have a viewpoint on the news we report. We make no bones about which side we are on, and so we deliver the news wrapped in commentary. We may also go so far as to make a call to action, such as e-mail your commissioner or, in the case of Catherine's Care Center, make a donation.

I think most news organization do have an agenda. For example, we think that Van Andel and DeVos projects got so much uncritical ink in the Grand Rapids Press's news pages because of the publisher's personal relationships. At least with us, you make sure you know where we're coming from.

Thanks for the excellent question.

Regards,
Bill Tingley
Executive Director