Hiway 80 Rescue Mission
Giving Back In Our Own Community
In the past, if you wanted to be a mission volunteer with Refuge International, you needed a passport and a plane ticket; however, we recognize the need for healthcare volunteers is as great in our home community as it is in other countries.
In 2009, Refuge International joined forces with the physicians at Leading Edge Medical Associates (LEMA) and the nursing faculty and students at The University of Texas at Tyler to provide medical assistance to the homeless population at Hiway 80 Rescue Mission.
The clinic at Hiway 80 Rescue Mission was started by Dr. Brian King, an emergency medicine physician in Longview.
In 2009, Refuge International began utilizing our experience in clinic operations and volunteer management to expand the scope of care given. Christus Good Shepherd Medical Center has collaborated with Refuge International and Hiway 80 to provide needed laboratory services.
A Giving Cycle In Motion
One unexpected result of our partnership with Hiway 80 is the giving cycle that it created. While Refuge International volunteers give their time to provide health care to those at Hiway 80, many of the men from the shelter have chosen to give back by volunteering at Refuge International. When needed, residents of Hiway 80 Rescue Mission volunteer their time at our warehouse crating and packing supplies going to Guatemala, and they often lend a hand at our fundraising events.
Skills Of All Types Needed In The Clinic
Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants are the primary providers at the Hiway 80 clinic. Nurses provide intake and medication education. Volunteers with no health care experience can help patients complete medical forms and perform typical office management and clerical work.
