The Links, Incorporated

Seizing the Opportunity to Provide World Class Leadership Friendship and Service

Links in the Community

New Orleans Health Clinic Receives Medical Supplies, Equipment, and Financial Contributions from The Links, Inc. -
Lower 9th Ward Residents Get Assistance from Global Women’s Organization

During their recent governance team meeting in New Orleans (LA), over 200 members of The Links, Incorporated, presented hospital and medical supplies and equipment to the Lower 9th Ward Health Clinic. This presentation was made at a back-to-school family health fair at the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Charter School on August 11th.

Dr. Gwendolyn B. Lee, national president of The Links, Inc., and members of The Links in attendance, donated $11,000 to help with the health clinic’s community outreach.

Robin Barclay, a member of the Greater Wayne County Chapter of The Links, Inc. in Detroit, MI, and her family, owners of the United Community Primary Care Clinic in Detroit, closed their hospital and donated equipment valued in excess of $500, 000. “My family and I, including my Link sisters, are proud of the work done in the Lower 9th Ward and we are proud to be of assistance,” said Ms. Barclay.

Children attending public schools in the Ninth Ward participated in the health fair, which offered free physical examinations, vision screenings, immunizations, lead poison testing, and blood pressure and glucose level testing. School supplies, childhood nutrition, health insurance information, educational games, and other donated items were given to children and their families.

Post-Katrina, there was no health care facility in the Ninth Ward. The Methodist Hospital previously served residents in this community, but it has not yet reopened. Patricia Berryhill, RN MFN, and Alice Craft-Kerney, RN BSN, nurses from the community, founded the Lower 9th Ward Health Clinic and operate it from the renovated home that belongs to Ms. Berryhill, who serves as the Clinical Director of the clinic Ms. Craft-Kerney, executive director of the Lower 9th Ward Health Clinic, commented on the donations. She said, “We are eternally grateful for all of the assistance from The Links, Inc. and we look forward to a continued relationship because there is a tremendous need for health care in this community.”

The health fair concept for the Lower 9th Ward was presented by The Links, Inc. national program team, led by Alma Dodd, coordinator for national programs of The Links, Inc. Contributing corporate sponsors for the project include Allstate Insurance, Federal Express (FedEx), Key Bank, Walgreens and Burger King, with assistance from the Orleans Parish Criminal Sherriff’s Office, city officials of New Orleans, and other local sponsors. The Links, Incorporated, who were the lead sponsor for the event, co-hosted the community service project in conjunction with the city of New Orleans Health Department; the Coalition of 100 Black Women, New Orleans Chapter; and Healthy Start New Orleans. The health fair was open to the public.