Community Health Center Fort Dodge Receives Grant Funding

Community Health Center of Fort Dodge announced Friday, an infusion of $50,000 in emergency grant
funding from the medical aid organization Direct Relief.  Community Health Center was among 518 federally qualified health centers to receive funding this
week through Direct Relief’s $25 million Covid-19 Fund for Community Health, which recognizes the
profound effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on the finances, services, staff, and patients of community
health centers. Community Health Center of Fort Dodge will use the funds to help continue serving the community &  health care needs during this pandemic. The health center is performing COVID-19 testing and has expanded to 6 days a week (Monday – Saturday 8 am – 5 pm) during this time. In addition to increased hours they are also able to provide Telehealth appointments and Carside Care.
“Access to primary care is what keeps people healthy and out of the hospital, and the frontline work of
Community Health Center of Fort Dodge and other nonprofit community health centers across the U.S.
is more critical than ever with the onset of Covid-19,” said Direct Relief President and CEO Thomas
Tighe. “Direct Relief is doing everything possible to bolster the work and support the staffs at the
safety-net health facilities on which so many patients and their families rely for excellent care and trust
for advice in this public health emergency.”

“We are grateful for this critical and immediate support as Community Health Centers work hard to
keep communities safe during an unprecedented pandemic,” said Tom Van Coverden, President & CEO
of the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC). “We are also deeply appreciative
of our longstanding partnership with Direct Relief in these uncertain times and their efforts to ensure
that health centers confronting multiple challenges in underserved communities have the resources
when and where they need them. We know that many donors and contributors have helped to make this
fund possible, and we further extend our appreciation to all of them.”