[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 149 (Thursday, October 6, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1800]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




HONORING ASHEVILLE BUNCOMBE COMMUNITY CHRISTIAN MINISTRY OF ASHEVILLE, 
 NORTH CAROLINA ON THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF ITS DOCTOR'S MEDICAL CLINIC

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                           HON. HEATH SHULER

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 6, 2011

  Mr. SHULER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Asheville Buncombe 
Community Christian Ministry, ABCCM, of Asheville, North Carolina, on 
the occasion of the 20th anniversary of its Doctor's Medical Clinic.
  The ministry was founded in 1969 by eight local churches and is now a 
cooperative ministry of more than 260 churches that strive to serve the 
needy citizens of Buncombe County. In 1991, the ministry opened a 
clinic to deliver quality medical care, referral management, and 
medication for the citizens of Buncombe County who are uninsured, 
underinsured and ineligible for Medicaid or Medicare. A number of 
volunteer registered nurses, nurse practitioners, social workers and 
physicians donate countless hours of their time to see to the medical 
needs of their fellow citizens in an empathetic and welcoming manner.
  In addition to the Doctor's Medical Clinic, ABCCM also performs 
community outreach in other ways by providing counseling, food, 
clothing, furniture, rent and utility assistance, and transportation to 
the disadvantaged in the community. It provides educational 
opportunities and books and coordinates religious services for inmates 
at local jails. The ministry also operates two shelters, one to help 
homeless veterans reenter society and one to provide emergency shelter 
for homeless women.
  Mr. Speaker, I am honored to recognize the Asheville Buncombe 
Community Christian Ministry for the outstanding work they have done 
for more than 40 years in Western North Carolina. As they celebrate the 
20th anniversary of the Doctor's Medical Clinic, I ask my colleagues to 
join me in celebrating their hard work and spirit of compassion that 
has had an enormous impact on the lives of many of the neediest in our 
community.

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