Meet Donna

“We should be sharing our gifts to bless others.”

Donna is a registered nurse with a heart for her community. After volunteering at Great Falls Rescue Mission a few years ago, she felt moved to do more. So she agreed to serve as our Volunteer Medical Director.

“They needed help in the Medical Clinic so I jumped on that. Nursing is my passion.”

Donna usually comes into the clinic early in the morning to prepare the office, three days a week. She cleans and does paperwork so the physicians – one of whom is her husband – can tend to patients. “We see to their physical, spiritual and emotional needs,” she says, smiling.

In addition to seeing guests of the Mission, they also provide care to low-income people in the community – free of charge. All of the medical providers including Donna, the two physicians and two chiropractors volunteer their time and services.

But the Medical Clinic was forced to close during the COVID-19 pandemic. The care they provide was deemed non-essential, so it was tough for Donna and her team not to be able to interact with patients and “wait to see when it was safe to open our doors.”

As a nurse, Donna loves the opportunity to mentor students from MSU College of Nursing who complete a rotation at the Mission.

“I had one nursing student that came in and you could see her light up. By the end of the clinic, she told me wherever she worked, she wanted to volunteer at the Mission so she could continue giving and caring.”

One of the biggest challenges Donna and her team face is lack of medical supplies. On her current wishlist is an infant scale so they can better monitor the health of babies in the clinic. “Right now, I weigh the mom first, give the baby to mom to weigh them both and then do the math.”

She also runs low on essentials such as thermometer probe covers, exam table paper, cleaning products and more. “As we are growing, we need to have the supplies to maintain the clinic.”

This Thanksgiving season – and all through the year – your kind generosity fills hearts with hope and gratitude… and transforms lives through God’s love!
“Christ asks us to take care of the needy and poor. So we’re here opening the doors and opening our arms. It’s an opportunity to pray, open the Bible and love people.”

To read our Fall 2020 issue of The Beacon, click here.