Mission of Mercy

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This shoot was one of the hardest things I have ever done. I am so grateful for the angels that make up the team of Mission of Mercy.

Since 1994, Mission of Mercy has been providing free healthcare, free dental care and free prescription medications to the uninsured, underinsured and those who “fall through the cracks” of our healthcare system.

An independent nonprofit 501c3, nonsectarian-community-based organization, Mission of Mercy receives no government funding. Because of this, they can provide healthcare without any pre-qualifications. None of their patients must prove their poverty or residency.

Founded in 1991 and launched in 1994 by clinical pharmacist, Gianna Talone Sullivan, Pharm D., headquartered in Pennsylvania and serving clinics in Arizona, Maryland, Pennsylvania and Texas, Mission of Mercy now has eighteen clinics providing more than 25,000 free patient visits each year.

Although Mission of Mercy serves everyone that comes through its doors. Their patients are predominately the uninsured working poor who usually fall into one of four categories:

Many work in low-paying and/or part-time service sector jobs or as agricultural or seasonal workers.

They pay taxes but make too much to qualify for government programs, yet they do not receive healthcare benefits and cannot afford health insurance on their own.

They are spouses, or the main provider, in families where at least one person is working full-time and access to healthcare is non-existent.

They are the previously employed, who because of the economic downturn have lost their full-time jobs and find themselves without insurance and little money to afford healthcare.

I don’t really care where you stand on the health care issue- when you see people lining up for this clinic at 11pm the night before in a severe thunderstorm, your heart breaks. Many of these patients haven’t been seen by doctors in years. Some are at their lowest point. Some just have nowhere else to go.

The doctors, nurses, translators and dozens of volunteers who make up each clinic are inspiring beyond words. I watched them, in one morning, help so many people who just needed little things to make their life better- blood pressure medication, a cortisone shot, a tooth pulled. Things many of us take for granted. I was humbled by this experience, and determined to help in any way I can.

Some local college students put together this video of my images with some facts about Mission of Mercy… it breaks my heart to read these facts, but I hope you watch it.