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The CARE Clinic is a nonprofit organization that provides free, quality healthcare to the low-income, uninsured adult residents of Cumberland and surrounding counties. Once a year, near Valentine's Day, the clinic hosts a meal-sharing fundraiser event promoting neighborly love.
People who have lived in Fayetteville for a while may be familiar with the event, while others may have never even heard of the clinic. While past participants may remember this event as the Evening of CARE, since the COVID-19 pandemic, the offering has morphed into the Week of Care — a new name and a new way to support The CARE Clinic.
Fundraiser history
While the Week of CARE event this month is the 26th annual Evening of CARE fundraiser, it is only the third “Week of CARE.”
The CARE Clinic owes much of its success over the years to its connection with the Fayetteville community. When the need for fundraising arose in the clinic's early days, it was settled that opportunities to gather and bond over a shared cause were important.
For the first 23 years of this event, folks opened their homes to guests; patrons purchased tickets for the evening and secured their spot at a dinner table in one of the hosts’ homes. It may seem strange to pay to visit a stranger's home, but it was a perfect opportunity to mix, mingle and meet new friends.
The event today
Since nothing brings people together like a good meal, it was important for the clinic to stick to a similar dinner format when redesigning the event post-COVID.
Instead of offering the event one evening, the CARE Clinic runs the fundraiser for an entire week. Throughout January, participants order “Family Meals” from one of two partnering caterers, Luigi’s Italian Chophouse or Dorothy’s Catering Two.
Not only do supporters choose what meal to order, but they also decide which day they want it. Then throughout the week of February 4-11, guests pick up their meals from the designated pick-up locations. Each meal is large enough to feed 6-8 people, depending on varying appetites. Whether for a special Valentine’s family gathering, a lake or beach trip, or to provide to the elderly who may need extra help, these meals are perfect for sharing with others.
With limited staff, the clinic relies on volunteer involvement to pull off events like this. Fayetteville native Martha Wood has headed the fundraiser event committee for the last 21 years. Of her role, she said, “I learned as a child through my parents’ dedication to my family and community that we must not focus on ourselves but love all people and share our time, talent and treasures with those in need.”
This year she leads a committee of 11 women who have connections to the Fayetteville community.
After 21 years, Martha continues to be enthusiastic about leading the group. Reflecting, she said, “I have been so blessed and realize daily just how fortunate I am to live in the wonderful community of Fayetteville.
My life has been enriched through the countless wonderful people I have met who have cared as deeply as I do about helping others and giving back to the community.”
Why the change?
When it comes to an event that has stood as long and strong as this one, you may wonder why the committee changed the format three years ago. The simple answer is COVID-19. The more difficult answer is that because times are changing, so must we.
COVID altered the dynamic of everyone’s lives. How could we ask people to gather in each other’s homes when we didn't know a thing about this virus sweeping the globe? Like most people, we had to get creative with our “new normal” following the lockdown. The committee brainstormed ways to keep the event’s spirit alive while promoting safe social-distancing practices. The Week of CARE was born.
No one knew what to expect from the new event format, but the outcome was truly mind-blowing. The 2021 event yielded $50,198 to support The CARE Clinic.
After finding such great success, the committee decided to continue with the new format into 2022 and 2023. Even though the world is out of quarantine, this new format still seems the best option.
It is important to update the fundraisers over the years to accommodate busy families who are always moving, and a take-home meal is the best way to do that. The best part is that this event still holds to its purpose. The Family-Style meals allow people to gather in communion over a shared meal for a good cause.
Besides the Week of Care, a golf tournament is held in autumn as an additional fundraiser. The 28th Annual Golf Charity Tournament at Gates Four Golf & Country Club was held on Sept. 9, 2022. Toast of the Town Annual Tasting & Silent Auction is another popular spring fundraiser held at Cape Fear Botanical Garden.
About The CARE Clinic
The CARE Clinic is a nonprofit organization located at 239 Robeson St. in Fayetteville, where it has been since its inception in November of 1993. Their mission is to provide free, quality healthcare to the uninsured adult residents of Cumberland and bordering counties. Services include primary care, simple dental extractions, pharmaceuticals, diagnostic labs and imaging, and referrals to outside sources.
They provide all services at no charge to clinic patients. Since they receive no government funding, financial support comes entirely from grants, individual donations and fundraisers like our Week of CARE. The clinic is grateful to all the sponsors, participants and volunteers who have supported this event for 26 years. Organizers are eager to see where it goes from here.
Learn more about the Care Clinic at www.thecareclinic.org
Editor’s note: Tara Martin is the development and marketing director of The CARE Clinic. This article first appeared in the February issue of Women’s View Magazine.