Category Archives: Rural

Withdrawal

I have not been able to get out and shoot for several days. I’m about to lose my mind.  Seriously.

But just because I haven’t been able to shoot, doesn’t mean I can’t post something.

 

How I Spent My Sunday, Part 2

A few more photos from Sunday’s Medical Response Outreach Event (MORE).

Danielle and Cory shared their stories with us. Danielle was compelling and her story would break your heart.

They both were willing to let me photograph their teeth so that we could convey to our elected officials the dire need for services in our community.  For obvious reasons, I will not be posting those photographs here.

Jacqui is a home health care nurse. Neither she nor her husband are insured.

Davit has big dreams of making it one day.

Bette (pronounced Betty, she was quick to tell me!) brought her son in for a flu shot and gave me good-natured hell about taking her photo, yet when I asked if I could photograph her with her boys, she proudly sat between them. I’ve got a print all ready to send to her.

Waiting outside the dental van.

How I spent my Sunday

Long-time followers know that I photographed the first ever Medical Outreach Response Event (MORE) last year as my final project for my lighting class.   They held the event again this past weekend and I volunteered to shoot the event. They already had a photographer for Saturday so I showed up yesterday.  Sunday wasn’t as busy as Saturday, but there was still plenty of need.   There are no medical services to speak of in our town. Many of these people are working poor, or disabled, and there are so many hurdles for them to jump over and so many cracks for them to fall through, that the problem feels insurmountable.

Here are just a few shots.

Attendees starting the process at intake.  The clients were screened here and directed to the various areas, depending on their need.

They might need dental work, vision care, help with obtaining affordable insurance or low-cost prescription assistance.  Or all of the above. There was also an immunization clinic to get people up-to-date on their shots, mental health screening, three dental vans, and the Mammovan was there to provide breast cancer screening.

 People shouldn’t have to get their health care in the middle of a high school gymnasium or get their teeth fixed in the parking lot. My country has its priorities all screwed up.

They shouldn’t have to wonder if there is something . . .  anything . . .  they can afford.

A young boy attempts to read the eye chart as the Lions Club volunteer looks on.

Immunization clinic.

She’s a bit nervous.

But she came through with flying colors.

More to come.