Merrillville Rotary Club Fills Holiday Tables Of Franciscan Health Clinic Clients

CROWN POINT, Indiana - The Merrillville Rotary Club, for the seventh consecutive year, made Thanksgiving happier for numerous area needy families recently by donating 50 turkeys, that were in addition to a wealth of other food items collected by Franciscan Health Crown Point employees and physician offices, to Franciscan Health St. Clare Health Clinic Crown Point, which distributed them to 35 client-families.

Club members raised funds and purchased the items from the Strack and Van Til store in Crown Point, which provided them at cost.

Shown receiving a turkey from club president Jim Larsen is Tammy Larkin, of Medaryville. Norma Alvarez holds another turkey, which was presented to her and parents Salvador Coronel and Carmen Coronel, all of whom are Dyer residents.

Also shown, from left, are Julie Mallers, clinic nurse practitioner and grant manager; Jennifer Willis, clinic practice manager; and club members Hans Enderlin, sergeant-at-arms; Mary Wright, a past president; and Skip Bosak, also a past president. Larsen said the club donates the turkeys to the families, because, "they depend on us."

Franciscan Health St. Clare Health Clinic Crown Point, 1121 South Indiana Avenue, since 1996, has provided free health and various other services to underprivileged residents in six area counties. The clinic is under the auspices of Franciscan Health Crown Point.

For more information, call (219) 663-2160.