Saying ‘Yes’ to Grace: An Act of Generosity

Sara Thomas does not have a lot of time to talk.

As the mom to four young children (ages 11, 9, 6 and 4), she balances a full-time job as a parent with her career as a private practice dentist in Richland. But on a sunny summer day, she’s willing to duck outside on her patio for a Zoom call about a project she gladly makes time for: her volunteer work with Grace Clinic in Kennewick.

“I got plugged in shortly after I moved to the Tri-Cities,” she said. “At that time, I realized that dentistry is not only a tool, but a tool meeting a huge need in the community. And once you start seeing how your tool fits, it’s really cool to see how that blesses other people.”

With more than 27,000 uninsured people in Benton and Franklin counties, the clinic has become a major provider of medical, dental and mental health care services, fueled largely by volunteer professionals like Thomas.

She volunteers at the clinic once a month — usually a half day on a Saturday — providing everything from routine oral care exams and fillings to extractions and more complex care. Sometimes, she brings her own kids along for the experience, putting them to work sorting supplies or helping with filing, allowing them to give back, too.

But there are only so many hours in a day, a week, or a month, and choices have to be made.

“Saying ‘yes’ to Grace is often at the cost of saying ‘no’ to someone else,” she said. “Going once a month means I miss a soccer game or a swim meet. But if I have to trade one soccer game or one swim meet to help meet the physical needs of people, it’s worth it.”

AN ACT OF GENEROSITY

Grace Clinic first began operating in June 2002, seeing patients for four hours each Saturday in the basement of the First United Methodist church in downtown Pasco.

Founded by two local physicians, the clinic provides services to low-income, uninsured residents of Benton and Franklin counties and is operated primarily by volunteers. In the early days, the clinic only provided medical care and then over time added dental via mobile units and mental health services.

In 2012, the clinic moved to its own space — a 10,000 square foot facility in Kennewick — where it serves an average of 65 dental patients per month. Grace Clinic is open Tuesdays-Saturdays; Spanish and other language interpreters are also available.

Since opening its doors, Grace has provided more than 106,000 patient visits — accessing needed health care services that generally were not available to them elsewhere.

Clinic Director Avonte Jackson came to the clinic eight years ago from a nonprofit background. 

“I especially appreciate the dental work we do with vets and seniors — I was not aware of limitations of Medicare and the Veterans Administration when it comes to dental,” said Jackson.

While faith is at the heart of the clinic’s mission, the volunteers are committed to meeting people where they are and serving them “with the dignity and respect they deserve,” said Jackson. The clinic is open to anyone who qualifies, regardless of a patient’s own religious beliefs and faith.

“Our motivation is in sharing the love we’ve been blessed to experience,” said Jackson. “The whole idea is that we do this as an act of love — an act of grace — and that plays into our name. As an act of generosity, we give to those who can’t repay us.”

A BOOST OF ENERGY

Sunnyside dentist Juan Ramirez says Grace Clinic is unlike anything he has experienced in his work in private practice.

“Everyone there is very appreciative of the work we do. I’ve volunteered at other places, but every time I go [to Grace Clinic], I feel like I get a boost of energy,” said Ramirez. “The people who work there are so great and the patients are so wonderful. Everyone who volunteers is there because they want to be there,” he added. “For work, you go because you want a paycheck. I like the people that I work with, but we’re all here for a paycheck. At Grace, you’re there because you want to be there.”

Ramirez remembers one patient he worked with — a patient with diabetes who needed several extractions.

“He gave me a hug at the end and then said a little prayer in Spanish. Those are the patients that stick with you because you know they genuinely mean that,” said Ramirez. “There are some patients that really, really stick with you. And they receive about $10,000 in [free] treatment. There is no way they’d get that care without Grace Clinic.”

Like Ramirez, Jackson and Thomas have also been moved by patients they’ve met through the Grace Clinic. 

“I tell people this is the first place I’ve ever been where they hugged the dentist after the extraction!” said Jackson.

Thomas recalls one patient, a woman who had a partial denture made in another country that had been stuck in place for two or three years.

“There were two of us treating her,” Thomas recalls. “We had to physically cut part of it and it took two of us to actually remove it. I just remember that’s not something you would see every day, and she had been living with it thinking there was nowhere to get help. It’s just crazy stuff,” she said. “We did a follow up and she looked physically different the next time I saw her. There’s so many things you can do to affect someone’s everyday life that are simple to do, as a provider, and that’s a neat and unique gift to be able to share.”

A GOOD SITUATION FOR EVERYBODY

According to Jackson, one key factor in the success of the Grace Clinic dental program’s success is the work of dental coordinator Jane Tanega.

“We are so blessed to be actively working in this community,” said Tanega, who became interested in the clinic after the prosthodontist she worked for brought her to see the clinic. She joined the staff part time in 2007, overseeing dental operations while continuing to work for a private practice. This year, the clinic brought her on full time, adding restorative and preventive dental services, and doubling the number of dental patients served.

“A big part of our expansion is having her full time,” said Jackson. “We have much more flexibility to work with people’s schedules, both our patients and our volunteers.”

Ramirez agreed that Tanega has been crucial to the clinic’s expansion and success. “Jane is great — she is really organized and always has a lot of people who want to volunteer there,” he added. “I think they like the mission and Jane and the way the clinic runs. I was also really surprised at the quality of the materials they have there. Volunteers won’t struggle to have good assistants — all of them are quality people. It’s a good situation for everybody.” 

SEE BEYOND YOURSELF

Even in the midst of full personal commitments and busy office days, Ramirez and Thomas agree their volunteer commitments give them a new perspective on their profession.

“It just feels different from working at private practice,” said Ramirez. “Of course, you’re giving your work for free — it’s just a different feeling doing something for someone who really needs it. You feel like you’re in the right place at the right time helping someone,” he said. “Because if you weren’t doing it, they would really, really struggle.” 

“Grace Clinic will give you eyes to see beyond yourself,” said Thomas. “Sometimes stepping back and seeing the basic talent you have can change the trajectory of someone’s daily life. That has a bigger impact on you than you might realize. Being able to step into a clinic like Grace and see the way they have partnered with so many areas of the community and doing so honorably with the resources they have, it’s clear the Lord has blessed that place,” she added.