St Mary’s Clinics seeks Medical Volunteers
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St Mary’s Clinics seeks Medical Volunteers
By Shane Gilreath
[email protected]
St. Mary’s Legacy Clinic (SMLC), an integral part of the Catholic Diocese of Knoxville on-going services across the region, continues its mission of bringing benevolent, high-quality medical care to uninsured patients across East Tennessee. The mobile clinic travels to multiple partner sites in distressed areas, including Helenwood, where the median household income is just $18,148.
According to Sandi Davidson, Pregnancy Services Program Leader, St. Jude Church in Helenwood offered its rectory to support local outreach. After renovations, the space became a Pregnancy Help Center, opening its doors in June 2022. Since then, the service has continued to expand, combining SMLC’s mobile and telehealth operations to reach even more residents in need.
Because of that outreach, SMLC is seeking volunteer nurses to join its growing team. Registered and licensed practical nurses – active licenses – are invited to assist in providing professional, pro-bono medical care, including lab draws, point-of-care testing, assisting providers during procedures, and preparing patient rooms.
Through partnerships like that at St. Jude’s in Helenwood and the dedication of the program’s volunteers, SMLC continues to bring medical care to vulnerable populations across the region. As of 2025, it is estimated that the diocese is home to 70,000 Catholics. For 35 years of that history, Catholic Charities of East Tennessee has striven to make a difference across that area. Statistically, one in ten persons living at or below the federal poverty guidelines are served by Catholic Charities annually.
While there would be some travel involved for Scott County volunteers, services and need are currently available in several East Tennessee locations, including Knox, Decatur, Athens, and Gatlinburg. Those interested in serving through this ministry are encouraged to contact Bri Vinyard at [email protected] for more information.