WCMS’ Spring Appeal is in Bloom!

Dear WCMS community,

As winter yields to spring, I find comfort in robins returning to my yard, even as wildfire smoke lingers in the air. My nesting visitors are proof of life.

Looking back over the past six months, I am profoundly grateful for your support of the Western Carolina Medical Society. Your generosity has allowed us to provide tens of thousands of dollars in rental assistance, groceries, gas cards, medication, and medical equipment to vulnerable neighbors. Thanks to you, lives have been renewed.

Yet, even as trees bud and birds sing, uncertainty is in the air. We won’t sugarcoat the challenges: We need your support now more than ever.

Your generosity fuels programs like Project Access, providing life-saving medical care for those who would otherwise go without. Each day, we meet neighbors like Maria (name changed to protect identity), who was diagnosed with breast cancer and uninsured. She could not access insurance or Medicaid. Earning less than $20,000 a year, she could barely pay her bills and care for her family, much less pay for treatment.

Fortunately, with help from our Bilingual Patient Navigator, Maria was quickly enrolled in Project Access, ensuring she would receive care. We also learned that Maria was facing food insecurity, so we connected her with fresh, local food resources. Working with Hope Women’s Center, Maria underwent a free double mastectomy followed by reconstructive surgery.

Today, Maria is cancer-free and receives routine follow-up care. She often tells our staff she is “beyond grateful” for the support that made her recovery possible. Your support of Project Access saved Maria’s life. Maria’s successful medical journey is just one of many stories of hope and healing that your support makes possible.

WCMS operates six programs to support the health and well-being of our neighbors:

• Project Access provides uninsured patients with life-saving medical care.
• Emergency assistance addresses urgent needs like housing, food, and transportation.
• Interpretation services in 38 languages so patients can make informed decisions.
• Mental health support for physicians and PAs to care for those who care for all of us.
• Colorectal cancer screenings for uninsured patients in 13 counties, as colorectal cancer rates are on the rise in adults under age 50.
• Scholarships for high school seniors who complete an internship through MAHEC.

It is no coincidence that we’ve chosen this season to ask for your continued support. Our uninsured neighbors have relied on WCMS for assistance for almost 30 years. However, the threats they now face have grown exponentially as Medicaid expansion and immigration are debated. Please help us continue this vital work.

We are honored to stand with you in pursuit of a healthier and more resilient Western North Carolina. Thank you for your consideration.