A Bridge Across Georgia: How Free and Charitable Clinics Unite Us in an Uncertain Time

In today’s fractured political climate, it can feel like there’s no common ground left. But Free and Charitable Clinics offer a rare space where values transcend party lines—where neighbors come together, not around ideology, but around compassion.

Donna Looper, Executive Director of the Georgia Charitable Care Network, has seen this unity firsthand. “Our clinics are built on compassion,” she says. “It’s what makes them different from other healthcare providers. They aren’t just treating patients—they’re showing them that someone truly cares.”

This culture of caring is especially strong in the South, where tradition, faith, and community responsibility run deep. “Here in Georgia,” Looper explains, “we’re in the buckle of the Bible Belt. People take care of each other. Over 60% of our clinics were started by faith-based organizations.” That shared belief in helping neighbors has fueled bipartisan support for Free and Charitable Clinics—even in a state where Medicaid has not been expanded.

“These clinics aren’t just healthcare providers,” she says. “They’re places where dignity is restored, where people feel seen, heard, and valued.”

Free and Charitable Clinics are locally based nonprofit organizations that provide medical, dental, pharmacy, mental health and other essential services to people who are uninsured, underinsured, or otherwise unable to access healthcare. Most operate without federal funding and rely on volunteer providers, private donations, grants, and community partnerships to power their services. In 2023 alone, Georgia’s Free and Charitable Clinics clinics provided more than 496,432 patient encounters across the state, those who may otherwise have gone without diagnoses or treatment for chronic conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, or asthma.

But even the most compassionate mission can’t operate without resources. And right now, the safety net is under strain.

At the federal level, proposed cuts or eligibility restrictions to Medicaid and SNAP (food assistance) are raising alarm bells. While these policies may be framed as cost-saving reforms, in practice, they often mean that fewer people can access the care and nutrition they need. In rural areas especially, these changes are accelerating hospital closures and placing more pressure on clinics that already serve people left behind by other systems. Without food assistance and healthcare coverage, uninsured families are forced to choose between buying food and seeing a doctor or filling a prescription. Cuts to Medicaid and SNAP are expected to result in strained hospitals, food banks, and other charitable organizations.

“Rising costs, coupled with donor hesitation in an uncertain economy, have created a perfect storm. A few of our clinics are dangerously close to shutting their doors,” says Looper. “We’ve never had so many in this level of financial distress. Our biggest concern right now isn’t legislation, it’s money. Will our donors be able to keep giving? Will we be able to make payroll next month?”

Despite this, Georgia’s communities continue to step up. They come together to support their clinics. The clinics stay nimble. And they serve patients with dignity, even as resources tighten.

With harmful legislation looming in the background, Looper and Georgia Charitable Care Network members talk with their state legislators about the importance of preserving the healthcare safety net. When Looper talks to policymakers, she doesn’t just lead with data, she leads with stories. “You can show them charts and outcomes, but what resonates is that our clinics treat people with compassion. That’s something everyone can agree on.”

And the Georgia Charitable Care Network is rising to meet the moment. Recognizing the pressure clinics are under, the association is expanding its support services in the months ahead. Biweekly Zoom calls will give clinic leaders regular opportunities to share challenges and solutions. Regional meetings will offer in-person connection and peer learning. A fall leadership retreat and continued grantmaking will strengthen operational capacity. Topics like cybersecurity, data collection, artificial intelligence in healthcare, and donor engagement are now front and center.

“It’s a constant education process,” Looper says. “We’re responding to what our clinics need, whether that’s technical training or just time to talk things through with someone who understands.”

In divided times, Free and Charitable Clinics remind us that shared values still exist. They aren’t just part of the safety net—they’re the soul of it. They reflect the best of what communities can do when they prioritize care, connection, and human dignity.

To continue this essential work, collaboration is key. MaryCatherine Jones Consulting is proud to partner with Free and Charitable Clinics, Charitable Pharmacies, and the associations that support them—offering strategic insight, grant development, and tailored public health consulting. By working together, we can strengthen these organizations as compassionate lifelines in their communities and expand their ability to serve those who need it most.

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Read how Virginia Association of Free and Charitable Clinics is supporting its members through uncertainty.

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