A Message from Paula Carvalho
Change… it’s a heavy word! Whether scary, exciting or challenging, change can be really hard. But change can also open the door to new possibilities, new relationships, new solutions.
Twenty-two years ago, Mission of Mercy launched its first clinic at Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church on 15th Avenue and Maryland. The church community embraced our mission and supported our work through in-kind, volunteer and financial assistance. We were blessed to have such a benevolent and enduring partnership!
After a sale of a portion of their property, Mission of Mercy was suddenly compelled to find a new home for our clinic before the end of 2019. Our Medical Director Dr. Brad Smith and Assistant Medical Director Dr. Roselynde Bryant set out to find a new clinic home to accommodate the 900 patients served annually at our North Phoenix clinic.
After exploring several churches in the surrounding area, a new home was found at North Phoenix Baptist Church at Central Avenue and Bethany Home Road. The church leadership welcomed Mission of Mercy with open arms and we celebrated our first service day at our new home in December! We are excited about our partnership with North Phoenix Baptist and very grateful for all the years at Shepherd of the Valley and their faithful support of our work.
Change has also come to our service model in exciting ways! Through new partnerships and funding opportunities, we have launched a comprehensive diabetes management program, which will enable us to enhance medical treatment with ongoing health education, nutrition counseling, access to fresh, healthy foods and point-of-care HbA1c testing. Throughout the next year, we will work in cooperation with our medical staff and volunteers to improve the health outcomes of our patients with diabetes.
As we embark on a new decade, we renew our commitment to providing a vehicle for hope to the patients and communities we serve, but we can’t do it without significant help. Please visit our Ways to Give page to learn about how you can support our seven clinics across Maricopa County. We greatly appreciate every donation — it truly makes a difference!
