Mount Carmel Street Medicine Program Inspires Community Support

As a mission-driven organization, one of our Core Values is the Commitment to Those Who are Poor, especially those most vulnerable. The everyday impact of our Mount Carmel Street Medicine program displays that Core Value in action.

The Mount Carmel Street Medicine program is made possible through the generous support of the Mount Carmel Foundation and for more than 30 years, has been providing free urgent medical care to central Ohioans who are uninsured or underinsured.

The Street Medicine team serves individuals experiencing homelessness, refugees, immigrants, victims of human trafficking, and anyone who has barriers accessing medical care. Through philanthropy, the team is also able to assist individuals with employment screenings, case management, spiritual care and housing. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, in addition to continued rounding on homeless camps, the program also adapted and provided telemedicine visits for patients in area shelters.

In March of 2021, the program was a 60-Minutes feature story which resulted in thousands of dollars in both financial and in-kind support. It moved the community into action.

Action, such as, longtime partner of the Mount Carmel Foundation, KEMBA Financial Credit Union, donated $100,000 to support the Street Medicine Program. This donation covered two new vehicles and many necessary supplies that help ensure the program can continue to run smoothly.

"It is no secret that our donors in Columbus, Ohio, and abroad are full of compassion and dedicated to supporting those most vulnerable. They rise to the needs of our community in extraordinary ways, and we are very grateful,” says Deanna Stewart, Foundation president. “We can’t fulfill our mission of being a compassionate healing presence without the healing ministered through philanthropy".