Nature Coast Ministries welcomes new director, focuses on its free dental clinic | Local News

In some cases it can take a when for an organization to locate its specialized niche.

In 2008, Character Coastline Ministries began out as a group of nearby pastors and volunteers wanting to assistance men and women who ended up most difficult hit by the downturn in the financial state.

They did a tiny little bit of this, a tiny bit of that, gave people today foodstuff and home furnishings, served pay back electric powered expenses.

And they served a great deal of individuals.

Around the several years, they rented house for their functions wherever they could, no matter if it was in Crystal River or Homosassa, and they’d use part of their rented place for a thrift shop to make earnings to dietary supplement donations from church buildings and individuals.

They came to be regarded as the group to change to if you had a residence fire or you had been homeless and have been transferring into an apartment, furnishing your new spot with every little thing you required.

“We’ve furnished 83 homes due to the fact the beginning of our ministry,” explained Cynthia Oswald, Mother nature Coastline Ministries president.

Nonetheless, despite the fact that they even now do that, that has not been their most important concentrate for about seven yrs.

“By the grace of God this corporation has grown considerably, but shockingly, a ton of people today never know about our (no-charge) dental clinic, and that is our mission. That’s where by all the money from our thrift retailer goes,” Oswald mentioned.

“It’s the only free of charge dental clinic in the total county, and people still do not know about it,” she claimed.

In 2014, Citrus Memorial Wellness Foundation gave Nature Coast Ministries $100,000 to invest in and preserve dental products for a absolutely free dental clinic.

The clinic initially started off in the former Catholic Charities making in Homosassa right up until they opened the recent clinic in December 2015, with its shiny black and white floors and clear grey partitions, at 7655 W. Gulf-to-Lake Freeway Device 8, Crystal River.

The providers, totally free for revenue-qualified men and women and by-appointment only, are restricted to extractions and fillings, with the purpose of finding people nutritious.

Products and services are offered by volunteers – dentists and dental assistants.

Immediately after six and a half yrs, Mother nature Coastline Ministries board users realized they experienced achieved a level wherever they wanted to go to a different degree.

Individuals even now didn’t know who they were being or what they’re about.

4 months ago, they employed a new government director, Sonja McCaughey, a former Tampa Law enforcement Division officer.

“In 2007, I bought a lake dwelling here as a family vacation place, and achieved Bonnie (McMullin),” McCaughey reported.

McMullin handles general public relations for the group and is one of its most ardent cheerleaders.

“I’ve often believed in this ministry,” McCaughey explained. “I have a brother who has Down syndrome and is nonverbal, and he benefited from an business like this 1 in Tampa where by he was capable to get dental care. He experienced an incredible infection, and it is amazing it did not eliminate him. So, I know how significant this dental clinic is to this neighborhood.”

In the 4 months McCaughey has been at the helm, she explained she continually meets persons who do not know about the dental clinic or they feel it is for veterans only.

Numerous of the men and women they see at the clinic are veterans, Oswald mentioned, but not exclusively.

It is for any Citrus County resident who does not have dental insurance and is inside 200 per cent of the federal poverty guideline.

Another misunderstanding folks have is about the Mother nature Coast Ministries thrift retail outlet.

“Since I’ve been here, I’ve listened to people today say they considered the thrift retail outlet was privately owned and that out of the goodness of the owner’s heart they have been donating to the (dental) clinic, and which is not real,” McCaughey claimed. “The thrift retailer experienced often been owned by Nature Coastline Ministries, with all the income likely to the no-price dental clinic.”

In addition to a new govt director, Nature Coastline Ministries also employed Sarah Hardy as thrift keep manager.

The thrift shop is at 4546 S. Suncoast Blvd., Homosassa, in the plaza where Ollie’s is positioned.

Now that they have those positions loaded, plus an business office manager for the dental clinic, one particular of the plans is for McCaughey to be out in the local community chatting to individuals about what Mother nature Coast Ministries does and what they need to have in buy to do what they do.

Initial and foremost, they will need volunteer dentists, even if it is only one working day a month or just one or two times a yr, or even a a person-time change.

At present, they have 80 people today on a ready checklist, waiting to see a dentist, Oswald said.

Aside from volunteer dentists, donations of dental machines which is no more time required, also dental supplies, would be greatly appreciated.

The Nature Coast Ministries thrift store has several requirements, as effectively:

The back space of the thrift retailer exactly where they kind donations wants improved lights, also much more shelving and durable techniques to get to cabinets that are substantial on the wall.

They also need anyone to put in stability cameras, and they could use the companies of an electrician and a plumber.

To understand far more, to volunteer or make a donation, phone the clinic business office at 352-422-4327 or email [email protected].

Visit the website at www.my ncm.com.