Free medical clinic Saturday

Footsteps Medical Missions is holding a free clinic 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday at the Black River Coliseum.

Dr. Rick Wirz, a surgeon at Saint Francis Clinic in Poplar Buff and founder of Footsteps Medical Missions, said its goal is to provide health care to anyone who needs it, especially those without insurance.

“It’s kind of primary care ... for people who don’t have any other source for routine medical care. There’s so many people that don’t have insurance, and we don’t ask anything about insurance, it’s open to anybody who walks through the door,” Wirz said.

The clinic will offer both general checkups and specialized health care. Among health care disciplines represented are a cardiologist, an optometrist and a hearing specialist with limited supplies of glasses and hearing aids, a physical therapist, a diabetic foot care specialist who also treats non-diabetic foot conditions, plus beauticians and barbers. Wirz himself will cover wound and chronic wound care. People can come in for specific ailments or general checkups.

“(We’re) just trying to take care of people and then using that opportunity to tell them about Jesus,” Wirz said.

Footsteps Medical Missions’ goal is to provide free medical care while sharing the gospel of Jesus. They operated strictly overseas until a few years ago when Wirz felt strongly led toward domestic clinics. He initially believed red tape would bind up any efforts made, but had a wake-up call as he mulled the issue over.

“And I just had this overwhelming feeling one time when I was trying to ponder, is there any way we can do it? And it’s almost like God was saying, ‘So you’re saying it’s too hard for me to work out?’” he said.

This is the organization’s third mission in the U.S., the first two being Kennett and Dexter. Those clinics saw between 70 and 80 patients. Wirz is prepared for higher numbers in Poplar Bluff.

“I’m really anticipating and expecting that we’ll have a lot more than that at this one, at least I’m hoping so. Because I’ve got a good seven or eight providers, I’ve got probably twice that many nurses. We’re really geared up to see a lot of people,” he said.

Footsteps is accepting volunteers for the clinic itself and set up the day before. Clinic volunteers should register online at footstepsmedicalmissions.org, click the volunteer tab, and select the domestic missions application. They should attend the pre-clinic meeting at 7 a.m. Saturday. Those who want to help set up the clinic should show up Friday.

Individuals and businesses can also support the mission by donating.

“That’s a huge need we also have is for people to donate as well, because it’s very expensive to put these on,” Wirz said. “We operate 100% on donations, we’re not-for-profit, we’re federally certified so we’re tax deductible, the whole nine yards.”

More information about Footsteps Medical Missions can be found by calling Wirz at 573-421-3972 or online at footstepsmedicalmissions.org.