Wow! The days keep going and the people keep coming - it has been awhile since the April newsletter.  The need for health care for the uninsured is still so great that every day we are open one-half to one-third of the people we serve are new clients. 
We here at Oasis of Hope Center count ourselves privileged to serve the underserved through healthcare.  God continues to use this place mightily during the past nearly 4 years and since opening the latest count for client visits is over 7,300!
Some highlights of events that have occurred since April:

• Dan and I did an hour-long program called “Michigan Alive” on WJBT-TV on May 14.  I think one or two people may have seen it.
• We attended the Community of Christian Health Fellowship in Nashville, TN the end of May and were refreshed and encouraged by other healthcare providers “living out the gospel through healthcare to the poor”.
• Together we are learning about opportunities in the community where our clients can receive needed services.  We are partnering with CORE Health through Spectrum Health Services and the Asthma Network to assist our clients in fine-tuning the treatments for their chronic disease. 
• A group of volunteers from Amway Corporation came for a day this summer and painted the front and back of our building.  One of our faithful volunteers made new flower arrangements for the front to compliment the new paint– looks great!
• The middle of August we had our first pre-school and pre-participation sports physical exam day.  We had wonderful volunteer participation but the response of the community was smaller than anticipated. We were, however, able to bless the children and the families that attended.
• A similar response to our Annual Health Fair occurred during November.  After months of preparation and anticipation, the response was greatly reduced from last year’s attendance.   Hansen Collision once again provided lunch and they were able to pass out 90 free hot dogs mostly due to the huge participation we had from GVSU’s Physician Assistant, Nursing and Exercise Science Departments.
• We received 350 free flu shot vouchers from CVS Pharmacies to provide our uninsured clients with the ability to be immunized against this year’s influenza.
• In November; West Grand Neighborhood Organization gave Oasis of Hope Center a Certificate of Appreciation for Outstanding Activities of Professional Partnerships and Concerns.
• We are preparing to recognize all of our wonderful volunteers at a Volunteer Appreciation Dinner being held in January.  We are so grateful for each of our volunteers and their willingness to serve God through healthcare to the uninsured. 
• We have received some generous donations that have enabled us to continue in this domestic medical mission.  This year’s donations are less than last year – the same report is echoed through all the charitable organizations.  But our God has faithfully met our every need and our doors continue to remain open.

Before I close for the year 2010, I would like to share my favorite “God Story” for this year and give
each of you one small piece of what we see every day here at Oasis of Hope Center.

One of our clients came in sometime last winter.  He came right from the Kent County jail - newly released with no health insurance, no money and no medication.  He was a rack of bones holding up some tattered clothing with hopelessness like a cloak around his shoulders.  He was a very sick man and we were able to give him what we could to help him.

He kept coming back, faithfully keeping his appointments and taking his medicine, until today his blood pressure is under control as well as his diabetes.  We were even able to remove a large mass from his face enabling him to “have some family pictures taken”. 

A couple of months ago he came in, a totally different person than the one who came in this winter and said, “You can call me brother now” - because he had given up drinking alcohol and given his life to our Lord, Jesus Christ.

Thank you for all your prayer and financial support – without our faithful supporters and prayer warriors we would not be able to PROVIDE HOPE…IN JESUS’ NAME.   

THANKS TO ALL OF YOU!!!                     Barb

If you would like to volunteer, or support us in any way, you can call or write at:

Oasis of Hope Center
522 Leonard Street NW
Grand Rapids, MI  49504-4258
(616) 451-8868 or fax (616) 451-8899
volunteer@oasis-of-hope-center.org
donate@oasis-of-hope-center.org
Donate on line
We are a 501(c)3 organization, all donations for support are tax-deductible.
THANK YOU SO MUCH,
Barb Grinwis, Director