Partnership Between Retirement Community and Free Health Clinic Benefits Both in NOVA

Falls Church, VA – The Culmore Clinic, an interfaith, non-profit offering comprehensive, culturally-sensitive medical care in northern Virginia at little to no cost, recently received over 300 free dental packages. Each package contained a toothbrush, toothpaste and floss that are to be given out to Culmore Clinic patients. The packages were assembled by the retirement community, Goodwin House Bailey’s Crossroads. Goodwin House Bailey’s Crossroad runs an inter-generational volunteer operation combining those in the residential program along with those in assisted living to use their talents and life experience to work together to make a difference in the community.

“Dental hygiene is very important for the patients we see”, says Terry O’Hara Lavoie, co-founder and executive director of Culmore Clinic. “Research is telling us that a healthy mouth helps ward off complications due to heart attacks, strokes and diabetes. With hypertension and diabetes among the most common issues addressed by Culmore Clinic, we are delighted, and so very grateful, that Goodwin House Bailey’s Crossroads has stepped in to help us help our patients.”

Outside of the dental packages, the Culmore Clinic also receives help from Goodwin House Bailey’s Crossroad in a direct way. Culmore Clinic functions out of donated space at Columbia Baptist Church, where many other activities take place. Every Thursday, when The Clinic sees patients, members of the Goodwin House volunteer committee help set up early in the morning and clean up in the evening. The partnership between the two organizations offers genuine, much needed assistance to the Culmore Clinic, while providing important and meaningful work for those at the Goodwin House.