Ashland Christian Health Center Hosts Fundraising Dinner
The Ashland Christian Health Center hosted a fundraising dinner last night at the Ashland University Convocation Center, drawing a packed room of nearly 300 community members in support of its mission to provide compassionate, charitable healthcare to those in need.
The evening featured a moving testimonial video, created by Jarred Bates of Bill Harris Chevrolet, that illustrated how access to care can be life-changing for individuals and families who are uninsured or underinsured. The video emphasized the role of charitable healthcare in restoring dignity to patients who might otherwise go without care.
Attendees heard from Dr. Snyder, Medical Director, Misty Welch RN, Nursing Director, and Cheryl Benway, Executive Director, each spoke about the clinic’s impact and the growing need for charitable healthcare in the community. Speakers highlighted that financial burden and limited access leave many individuals delaying care until conditions become critical—something the Ashland Christian Health Center works to prevent through early intervention and ongoing support.
Welch delivered a particularly heartfelt address, focusing on the clinic’s all-volunteer medical staff and their commitment to serving patients with compassion, faith, and excellence. She emphasized that charitable healthcare depends on these volunteers who freely give their time and expertise so patients can receive care regardless of their ability to pay. Welch reviewed the growing number of patients being seen at ACHC, but stated “even if we only help one person, they matter”.
Benway emphasized the need for community members to walk alongside ACHC financially. She recognized donor partners in the room and gave thanks to those remaining anonymous.
One of the night’s most emotional moments came when Welch presented ACHC’s annual volunteer recognition plaque to Sharon Strickling, RN, honoring what Welch described as years of steady, compassionate service and mentorship inside the clinic. Strickling, who has served alongside the health center’s mission for decades, received a standing ovation as supporters applauded her dedication.
The event highlighted the vital role charitable healthcare plays in the community and the strong local support behind the clinic’s efforts to ensure that quality, faith-based medical care remains accessible to all.
In remarks reflected in the evening’s program, ACHC leaders described the clinic as a place where patients are met without judgment, where volunteers offer both medical care and personal presence, and where charitable healthcare can be the difference between going without treatment and getting help in time.
Organizers closed the evening by urging continued prayers and support for the clinic’s medical volunteers and expanding services, while also reminding attendees to use caution in the icy parking lot as they departed.
To learn more or donate online, visit the Ashland Christian Health Center website. https://www.ashlandchristianhealthcenter.org/
