Anita Ruff, Oasis Free Clinics Executive Director
As we approach the close of another year, I find myself reflecting on what it truly means to serve our community—and I’m filled with gratitude for all that we’ve accomplished together.
This year, our clinic doors opened 247 days, welcoming neighbors who came to us not just seeking medical care, but looking for dignity, compassion, and hope. Behind every appointment scheduled, every prescription filled, and every health concern addressed is a person—a mother worried about her persistent cough, a husband managing diabetes on a fixed income, a young adult navigating a new diagnosis without insurance.
The numbers tell an important story: we provided care to over 440 patients this year, delivered almost 2,000 medical visits, and dispensed almost 1,000 prescriptions through our pharmacy. But the stories behind those numbers tell an even more profound truth about the power of accessible healthcare.
I think of Maria, who finally got her blood pressure under control after years of putting off care, thanks to our at-home blood pressure monitoring program. Of Bob, whose chronic dental pain was treated thanks to our dental team.
This work is only possible because of you—our donors, volunteers, community partners, and advocates. Our volunteer clinicians donated over 750 hours of their expertise this year. And what a year of community support it has been! Gelato Fiasco welcomed neighbors for their Scooping for Community event, turning every delicious scoop into support for our mission. Maine Beer Company brought people together for their Community Pizza Night, reminding us that breaking bread—and raising funds—is best done as a community. The Brunswick in Bloom Garden Tour sponsors opened their hearts and their businesses to support our work, proving once again that Brunswick’s spirit of generosity is in full bloom year-round. These partnerships and events don’t just raise critical funds—they raise awareness and remind us that an entire community is rooting for our success.
Our partnership with Mid Coast Hospital and their wonderful clinicians and staff is critical, creating seamless pathways of care for our patients when they need specialized services. We’re especially proud of our ongoing collaboration with the Core Four—The Gathering Place, Mid Coast Hunger Prevention Program, and Tedford Housing. Together, we’ve deepened our shared commitment to standing alongside our clients, recognizing that health cannot be separated from housing, food security, and community connection. When we work together, we address not just symptoms, but root causes. This is what true community care looks like.
Beyond the statistics and program milestones, this year has reminded me that our clinic is more than a workplace—it’s a family. We celebrated when one of our team members got married, toasted another’s purchase of a new home, and supported each other through life’s inevitable challenges. Our work colleagues become friends, and we share our highs and lows with them. This sense of connection and care doesn’t stay within our staff—it radiates outward to every patient interaction, every volunteer shift, every community partnership. When you work in a place where people genuinely care for one another, that compassion becomes contagious.
Like any journey worth taking, this year has been one of transitions and growth. We’ve said many hellos and goodbyes. We’ve built new initiatives and let others go, trusting that evolution is part of staying responsive to our community’s needs. There have been moments—quiet ones in the middle of busy days—when we’ve questioned what we’re doing, why we’re doing it, and whether it’s truly making a difference. And then, just when we needed it most, a patient would share their story, or a volunteer would remind us why they keep showing up. Those moments of affirmation don’t erase the hard questions, but they anchor us in the truth that this work matters deeply.
We also continue to embrace our role as teachers, opening our doors to students from Bowdoin College, Stanford University, and the University of Southern Maine. Training the next generation of providers is more than a responsibility—it’s an investment in a future where compassionate, community-centered care is the standard. These students learn not just clinical skills, but the profound lesson that excellent healthcare happens when we see the whole person, not just the diagnosis. Many tell us their time here has fundamentally shaped how they want to practice. That impact will ripple forward for decades to come.
The challenges we face are real. Healthcare costs continue to rise, the need in our community grows, and the safety net remains stretched thin. Yet I’ve never been more hopeful about what we can achieve together. Next year, we’re expanding our dental services, increasing our blood pressure monitoring program, and more. We have big dreams at a time with big needs.
As we enter this season of reflection and renewal, I invite you to consider how you might be part of our mission in the year ahead. Whether through financial support, volunteering at the Garden Tour, or simply spreading the word about our services, every contribution makes a difference.
Thank you for believing that quality healthcare is a right, not a privilege. Thank you for standing with us as we work to build a healthier, more equitable community for all.
Oasis Free Clinics is a nonprofit, no-cost primary care medical practice and dental clinic, providing patient-centered care to uninsured adults living in Freeport, Durham, Harpswell, Brunswick and Sagadahoc County. For more information, visit OasisFreeClinics.org or call (207) 721-9277.
Recent Comments