John Quinn, CEO of Spalding Regional Medical Center, presented the two grant checks to Kathy Steele, Executive Director of the Hope Health Clinic on Thursday, December 27.

Spalding Regional Medical Center has donated $57,500 to the Hope Health Clinic, which provides medical services for the uninsured residents of Griffin and Spalding County.

The Tenet Healthcare Foundation awarded the clinic two grants, in the amounts of $7,500 and $50,000, at the recommendation of Spalding Regional Medical Center.

The first grant of $7,500 helps fund the clinics operations and was made as part of the hospital’s annual charitable giving to local organizations.

The second and more substantial grant of $50,000 was given to the clinic to expand its services and meet the growing demands of the uninsured population in Griffin and Spalding County.

Currently, the Hope Health Clinic sees more than 1,200 patients, which account for approximately 4,300 visits each year. However, due to the large number of uninsured residents, the clinic has been unable to meet the large demand for its services and currently has a six to eight-week waiting period for new patients.

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 11 percent of the county’s residents, or 6,742 people, are uninsured. In addition, the Center for Agribusiness and Economics Development at the University of Georgia estimates that nearly 10,000 Spalding County residents live below the poverty level. The $50,000 grant will allow the clinic to expand its hours and services to better meet the community need.