Engage our community to serve and advocate on behalf of those affected by poverty by providing food and nutrition, promoting health and wellness, and by laying the foundations of home. Community. That’s our mission. With each of our main programs, serving and bettering the community is always our priority, our focus, and our foundation.
Urban Ministries of Wake County’s Open Door Clinic had a humble beginning with 15-20 patients per week. Today, the clinic serves more that 1,300 uninsured adult community members and filled more than 39,000 prescriptions during 2020-2021. In addition to primary care appointments, the clinic offers curbside prescription pick-ups, diabetes education, mental health counseling and vaccinations.
Diabetes education is just one of the many examples of community outreach through the clinic. Our team of highly qualified physicians offer medical care, medications, education, counseling (behavioral health and pharmacological) to adults with diabetes and pre-diabetes. Diabetic and pre-diabetic patients are seen on a regular and per need basis by the medical providers for lab work to monitor HbA1C levels and other important health signs. In addition to office visits, providers also regularly discuss patients that are uncontrolled and/or have HbA1C levels above 10. The meetings help identify any potential needs or gaps that could assist in improving the outcomes of each of the patients that are to the attention of medical professionals. Oh, and our pharmacy fills medications for all diabetic patients as prescribed. 
The Open Door Clinic has contributed to the public health of our community by providing COVID-19 testing and vaccinations throughout the current pandemic, and also partners with Walgreens to vaccinate clinic patients and community members from the Flu virus.
Every morning Monday through Thursday, UMWC’s Health and Nutrition Program serves meals to dozens of families through a curbside pick-up model. But outside of pantry’s perimeter, the program also serves those in the community stricken my financial hardship and hunger. Through partnership with Wake County Health and Human Services’ Public Health Division, Hunger and Nutrition Director Nick Robertson and program staff/volunteers serve food to 100 families twice a month through Abba Worship Center and distribute 50 boxes of food to families bi-monthly through respite programs.
Last but not least, UMWC’s Helen Wright Center not only provides emergency housing, but also works with center residents to prepare them for success long after their stay. That’s the true meaning of community, right? Residents at Helen Wright have access to case management and an extensive workforce development program. Last year, 45 women graduated from the workforce development program with certifications to become pharmacy technicians, medical administrative assistants and physical therapy technicians. Once the women are employed, they will save 75% of their earnings to cover expenses once they leave the program through a 60-day residency program that aims to help women transition from the shelter to a long-term home. Community partnerships with the center include Dress for Success, Jobs for Life, StepUp Ministries and Personify to provide employment interviews coaching, BB&T and Coastal Credit Union for financial confidence, and Wake Tech, which has made the Helen Wright Center a satellite campus with weekly classes covering a variety of life skill subjects.
We are proud of our community, and it is our duty, our mission, our goal to provide for it the best we can. The quality of life for every single person in our community is important to us and will be for 40 more years.
