Perspective from the 19^th Hole is the title I chose for my personal blog, which is meant to give me an outlet for one of my favorite crafts – writing – plus to use an image from my favorite sport, golf.  Out of college, my first job was as a reporter for the Daily Astorian in Astoria, Oregon, and I went on from there to practice writing in all my professional positions, including as press secretary in Washington, D.C. for a Democrat Congressman from Oregon (Les AuCoin), as an Oregon state government manager in Salem and Portland, as press secretary for Oregon’s last Republican governor (Vic Atiyeh), and as a private sector lobbyist.  This blog also allows me to link another favorite pastime – politics and the art of developing public policy – to what I write.  I could have called this blog “Middle Ground,” for that is what I long for in both politics and golf.  The middle ground is often where the best public policy decisions lie.  And it is where you want to be on a golf course.

The Free Clinic in Salem, Oregon, now about 20 years old, is one of the places these days where my wife and I have decided to devote our charity dollars.

Why?

Well, two reasons.

• First, we are trying to focus on the good work of the Free Clinic and others because that’s better than focusing on the damage Donald Trump and his minions are doing to the country’s safety net.

• Second, the Free Clinic does great work with low-income citizens in our area who, otherwise, may not have access to any health care services.

Consider these statistics from 2024:

• The Clinic hosted 6,559 patients for medical visits, with no obligation to pay anything.

• The Clinic provided 2,310 hours of free counseling services.

• The Clinic provided 588 free dental appointments.

• The Clinic found a way to receive free medications and dispense them to patients.

How did all this occur?

Well, the Clinic has more than 200 volunteers – doctors, nurses, dentists, counselors – to provide these free services.  And many of them know how to access such resources as medications.

This is a piece of good news in Salem, Oregon.  The idea for the Free Clinic started at the church my wife and I have attended for more than 30 years.  But, beyond our church, volunteers now come from many other Salem churches, indicating that churches can put “hands and feet to the Gospel” if they work together.

The issue is not about getting credit.  The issue is doing “good work.”

At a time when charity dollars are trying up from the federal government, organizations like the Free Clinic are even more important.

So, we will continue supporting it as, if nothing else, a worthy endeavor.  But beyond worthiness, the Clinic allows those of who support it to express God’s love for all people – ALL people.