RAYS OF HOPE 2021 : With Hardship is ease

Due to current circumstances our physical banquet dinners were cancelled last year. This year, we are trying to host them virtually to raise funds for the programs which serve our community in need for no cost health services and food insecurity.
Your help and support will benefit our neighbors and community in general in these times of crisis.

Shifa Clinic was established in 2011 as a local chapter of the national organization ICNA Relief to provide compassionate, high-quality, no-cost health care to the uninsured and underserved in the Tricounty area. We envision a community where individuals and institutions support each other to alleviate the effects of socioeconomic disadvantages on the health and social well-being of the underserved.

Addressing barriers to healthcare access, such as low income, health literacy, lack of insurance, language barriers, and cultural mistrust, our clinic maintains high-quality standards of care. At Shifa Free Clinic, comprehensive no-cost health care is readily available, encompassing acute, chronic, primary, and preventative healthcare in various specialties, such as prenatal care, pediatrics, gynecology, and vision services, among others. We offer no-cost lab, vaccines, and pharmacy services, ensuring improved patient compliance and treatment outcomes. Patients eligible for free services must meet specific criteria, including lacking health insurance and falling within 250% of the federal poverty level based on household size.

We are accredited by the South Carolina Free Clinic Association and awarded the Gold Seal by the National Association of Free Clinics for quality standards. Shifa Free Clinic cultivates community relationships to understand and meet local health needs. Partnerships include LabCorp, Direct Relief USA, Merck patient assistance programs, DHEC, Americares, Colon Cancer Prevention Network of SC, Roper Saint Francis Hospital, and many more. Collaboration with local organizations led to the provision of in-kind services valued at over $2.3 Million in 2022.

Our strategies for improving health outcomes encompass comprehensive care, technology utilization (Electronic Medical Record), language translation services (Stratus language line), preventive care and screenings, diagnostic and minor surgical services, maternal and child care access, STI services, contraception care, and addressing food insecurity through an on-site food pantry and community outreach events.

The clinic collaborates with Roper Saint Francis Hospital through established charity network pathways for further evaluation and management of complex surgical cases or abnormal cancer screening results.

Shifa Free Clinic is committed to medical, organizational, and operational excellence, building trust through transparent financial records and stated outcomes in its annual reports. We have a dedicated team of 15 volunteer providers and a diverse staff of 13, supported by a Advisory Board of 9 and a pool of 320 volunteers.

Experiencing 25% annual growth since our inception, we recently relocated to a larger permanent facility to accommodate increased demand, improve efficiency, expand service delivery capacity, and enhance staff morale.

Join the Charleston team as we fundraise for the amazing new initiatives coming out as we celebrate a decade of service in Charleston, SC. Our team knows  it is  important to move forward and raise awareness and critical funds for the people we continue to serve in these times of crisis.  Shifa Free Clinic serves some of the most vulnerable members of our community, and our annual fundraising event raises essential support for programs and services for  no cost  health care including Prenatal care,  primary care, gyn, vision, dental and pediatrics.  In addition funds are also used for our robust Hunger prevention program ,baby and toddler program serving thousands of  families in need. 

During the COVID-19 state of emergency, our people – from consumers to frontline caregivers – have been deeply affected, and we face mounting costs and lost revenue due to the pandemic. We greatly appreciate your support  to ensure the well-being of our people and the stability of the organization.

Our fundraiser is active from now on. Our webpage is accepting donations, and a live one and a half  giving hour on March 20th will be a virtual event.

The program on March 20th   will include the following
a) Video messages from our guest of honor Kristin Graziano and special speaker Dr. Altaf Hussain

b) Detailed Report of 2020 by Dr. Reshma Khan on our impact in COVID

c) Special segment called Rays of light where we celebrate 10 of our special individuals /organizations who have had the greatest impact on program building over the last 10 years

d) Community Awards : Honoring and recognizing heroes who worked tirelessly in COVID 19 to provide relief to our community. Get inspired!

e) Live lend a hand pledge.

f) Silent Auction