Urban Ministries of Wake County: Our 2012 Partner

Each year Band Together successfully raises the bar by setting and attaining goals that surpass the previous year’s.  And, it seems we set a new record in fundraising nearly every year.  We recently checked in with Urban Ministries of Wake County, our first partnership to break the half-million mark, and this is what Laura Ridgeway, Development Officer, had to say:

Urban Ministries of Wake County is proud to have been a community partner and recipient of Band Together’s benefit concert in May of 2012.  Through joint efforts, we raised over $552,000 to provide medical care for over 420 patients in our Clinic who had no access to health care.  Lives are transformed – and in many cases saved – when patients get the care and medications they need from our Clinic.  Thanks to funding from Band Together and our community, these patients have been better able to support themselves and care for their families.

Urban Ministries’ Clinic has learned that 83% of our patients this year are reporting a reduction in absenteeism from work.  In addition, we’ve learned that 86% of our patients decreased hospital visits/stays or remained out of the hospital for two years. This saves the community at least $6.5 million each year by keeping patients out of emergency rooms and costly inpatient hospitalizations.  Our model of care serves our patients and the community in effective and efficient ways, while transforming and saving lives.

The community has supported Urban Ministries for 33 years, and we leverage that support by ensuring 94 cents of every dollar received funds our services.  Our needs are ongoing for funding, food, meals, and volunteer time, and we encourage anyone to join us in our efforts by volunteering.

As Urban Ministries of Wake County moves into the future, we are focusing on overall health of the community.  More than filling empty stomachs, we are providing nutritious food to people who need it.  More than sheltering the homeless, we embrace them and create a home for them while they are working on self-sufficiency.   More than providing clinic visits and prescriptions, we engage our clients to take better care of themselves.  In working in partnership with our volunteers, our donors, our staff and clients, we can change our community, renew lives, and restore hope.