WE CAN’T CARE FOR OUR COMMUNITY WITHOUT YOU

Elizabeth Austin 

Thanks to the generosity shown during our second annual Day of Giving on April 25th, the Good Neighbor Health Clinic and Red Logan Dental Clinic raised $6,521—meeting our full $5,000 match from the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation. Every dollar raised will be used to support essential services such as primary care, mental health counseling, dental treatment, prescription assistance, and help navigating the complexities of the healthcare system. Through care coordination and community referrals, we ensure that patients are not left to manage complex, chronic conditions on their own.

“Our work is directly reflective of our incredible community, every item we use to deliver care is based on our community’s direct support of our work. We all know someone who is in need right now, and through your support of our organization, we are able to deliver quality care and alleviate some of the pressure individuals in our community face daily – thank you for making it a healthier community for all” said Executive Director, Elizabeth Austin, MHA.

These contributions provide the resources needed to maintain access to care that keeps individuals out of emergency rooms, address health issues before they worsen, alleviate preventable dental pain, and ensure that every patient is treated with respect, regardless of their insurance status or ability to pay. Your support enables us to meet the growing need for care, helping those managing multiple conditions, struggling to afford medications, or living without stable housing or income. You help us be there when a single appointment, prescription, or conversation can change the course of someone’s health.

Our patients are resilient, but the barriers they face are real.

In rural communities like ours, the kind of access we provide is not guaranteed. There are fewer healthcare providers, and even fewer who are accepting new patients. Wait times are long, especially for dental and mental health care. Transportation can be a barrier. Some patients must travel long distances for specialty care or delay treatment because they can’t afford to miss work. Insurance coverage alone doesn’t guarantee access when local providers are unavailable. Preventive care is one of the most effective tools we have to reduce rising healthcare costs and improve health outcomes. These are the gaps we exist to fill, by offering direct care, care coordination, and long-term support to people who might otherwise be excluded from the healthcare system.

Our Day of Giving is just one day, but its impact lasts all year. Our patients don’t stop needing care when the fundraiser ends—and we don’t stop showing up. Our team of staff and volunteers works every day to respond to increased patient volume and complexity. We will continue to rely on our community’s engagement to sustain this ongoing effort. We thank everyone who supported us during this year’s Good Neighbor Day of Giving. If you missed the event but believe in a healthcare system that includes everyone, there’s still time to contribute. We invite you to learn more about our work and how to stay involved. Together, we can keep showing up for every neighbor who needs us.

– Elizabeth Austin is the executive director of Good Neighbor Health Clinic
and Red Logan Dental Clinic in White River Junction.

White River Junction, VT, April 21, 2025–

Good Neighbor Health Clinic and Red Logan Dental Clinic has been awarded a $5,000 Community Impact Responsive Grant from Granite United Way to support its 2025 Drive Through Vaccination Event and patient-based services that reduce barriers to care for underserved community members.

The grant was awarded following a competitive application process reviewed by Granite United Way’s Community Impact volunteers across seven regions and approved by its Board of Directors. The process prioritized programs addressing immediate and critical needs within each local community.

This funding will enable Good Neighbor Health Clinic and Red Logan Dental Clinic to increase access to seasonal vaccines and strengthen operational capacity for direct patient services. In 2024, the organization provided 293 vaccinations through its drive-through model and anticipates serving even more individuals in 2025 due to projected limitations in vaccine availability.

Funds will support the purchase of vaccines, medical and dental supplies, translation services, and educational materials to ensure equitable and high-quality care. These efforts aim to improve public health outcomes by providing low-barrier access to essential healthcare services.

This investment by Granite United Way reflects a shared commitment to meeting the health and wellness needs of vulnerable populations across the region.

Our Community Corner, located just outside the dental clinic, provides donated clothing and personal care items for our patients in need. Right now, our supply is running low, and we’re looking for additional donations to help replenish it. If you have gently used clothing you no longer need, please consider contributing to our clothing drive.

Visit the clinic (located at 70 North Main Street in White River Junction, Vermont) between 10AM and 12PM on Friday, March 7th to drop off your gently used items!

We are thrilled to announce that our Executive Director, Elizabeth Austin, was recently honored at the 3rd Annual I Am the Dream: The Past, Present & Future awards ceremony, held on Friday, January 17th, and hosted by Dartmouth College’s Office of Diversity, Inclusion, and Community Engagement (DICE). This ceremony, held in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, recognized individuals who have demonstrated the ideals, courage, compassion, dignity, humility, and service that exemplified King’s character and empowered his leadership.

Elizabeth was recognized for her work in addressing food insecurity and its intersection with healthcare disparities. This award reflects Elizabeth’s tireless commitment to creating solutions that improve access to nutritious food for underserved members of the community while helping address the broader challenges of food insecurity and its impact on health outcomes.

Through her leadership, Elizabeth has worked to advance important initiatives that inspire collective action and drive positive change. Her work continues to be a vital part of the ongoing efforts to promote social justice and equity in healthcare and nutrition, especially for the patients at Good Neighbor Health Clinic and Red Logan Dental Clinic.

The event also honored other notable individuals and teams who have contributed substantially to the fight against food insecurity and poverty, as well as those who have worked to promote social justice. We are proud to see Elizabeth among these distinguished honorees.

This recognition at Dartmouth’s I Am the Dream Awards is a testament to the dedication and leadership that Elizabeth brings to our organization and the wider community. We are grateful for her ongoing commitment to creating a healthier, more equitable future for all.

Click here to view the full recording!