St. Andrew’s Children’s Clinic provides free, specialized medical care to children
living in Mexico who cannot get the care they need in their own country.
The children have various medical problems, ranging from spina bifida
and cerebral palsy to speech, hearing, and vision problems. Their
parents are very poor. The Clinic is held the first Thursday of every
month (except July) at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Nogales, AZ.
Patients number 200-250 each clinic day.
Donations to The Clinic cover the costs of x-rays, laboratory tests,
prescriptions, orthopedic devices, hearing aids, and any other necessary
items or procedures for the children’s health care. Professional
services from doctors, nurses, nutritionists, occupational therapists,
physical therapists, Reiki therapists, speech and language therapists,
and audiologists are donated to The Clinic. Presently, monetary and
non-monetary donations are received from churches, businesses, civic
groups, foundations, and individuals. As with all medical services,
costs continue to climb requiring an increasing need for donations. Of
all donations received, 92% goes to direct patient care.
The
Clinic was founded in 1973 by concerned individuals in Nogales, AZ and
Sonora. When the Clinic outgrew homes in Nogales, Sonora, it was moved
to an orphanage and ultimately to St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in
Nogales, AZ. In January, 1990, St. Andrew’s Children’s Clinic received
an IRS 501(c)3 tax exempt status.
Over
the years, many St. Andrew’s parishioners have volunteered at The Clinic
and provided financial assistance. Currently, 20-25 parishioners work as
volunteers providing assistance in roles such as doctor, nurse,
newsletter editor, Board member, kitchen worker, parking attendant, and
interpreter.