Bluffton Jasper County Volunteers in Medicine is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit providing compassionate medical, dental, and behavioral care at our Bluffton and Ridgeland clinics for uninsured residents, made possible by the generous support of our community. Our mission statement: “To provide free medical care in a compassionate and professional manner to the uninsured of Greater Bluffton and Jasper County with an emphasis on preventive medicine and health education.”
Yesterday, Bluffton Jasper County Volunteers in Medicine was proud to be part of the South Carolina Free Clinic Association legislative day in Columbia.
Executive Director Pam Toney and Director of Development Stephanie Bashaw joined free clinic leaders from across the state to advocate for the vital role free clinics play in expanding access to care for uninsured South Carolinians.
We are deeply grateful to SC Free Clinic Association for bringing us together for such a meaningful and impactful day.
A special thank you to Senate President Thomas Alexander, Senator Russell Ott, Representative Gilda Cobb-Hunter, and Representative Lee Hewitt for participating in the morning breakfast panel and for your continued leadership in supporting healthcare access across our state.
We were also honored to meet with Lieutenant Governor Pamela Evette, who joined us in recognizing the impact of free clinics across South Carolina and proclaiming March 25th as Free Clinics Day.
After being introduced in both the Senate and House of Representatives, we had the opportunity to connect with legislators like Senator Mike Reichenbach and his lovely wife Charisse to discuss the critical role free clinics play in caring for uninsured individuals in our communities and to thank them for their support.
Days like this remind us that strong partnerships and dedicated advocacy are essential to sustaining access to compassionate medical, dental, and mental health care for those who need it most.
Thank you to our legislators for your continued support of free clinics and the patients we serve. 💙
03/24/2026
The BJVIM team was honored to be one of the Top 3 finalists for Non-Profit of the Year at the Chamber’s Golden Oyster Awards on February 28. 💙
This award celebrates organizations making a profound impact in the Greater Bluffton community through service, civic engagement, and an unwavering dedication to those they serve, and we are proud to stand alongside such incredible partners.
Congratulations to Bluffton Self Help on being named Non-Profit of the Year, and to Lowcountry Legal Volunteers for the meaningful work you do every day. We are grateful to collaborate together in strengthening our community.
Moments like these reflect the power of compassion, commitment, and community, and we are thankful to be part of it. 💚
03/24/2026
Congratulations to the “Wonky Women of the Palmetto Quilt Guild” for taking home top honors in “The Paradise Challenge” with their stunning tropical design! 🌴✨
This beautiful, award-winning quilt is a perfect fit for BJVIM’s tropical-themed 9th Annual Bourbon & Bubbly Gala on May 14, 2026, and it’s just one of the many incredible items you’ll find in the auction.
✨ Food, drink, entertainment & Incredible auction items
✨ A meaningful cause
✨ A night you won’t want to miss
We are proud to recognize NEXGEN Multi-Family Plumbing as a Champion of Care sponsor of the 9th Annual Bourbon & Bubbly Gala.
Their generosity is an investment in the health of our community, helping BJVIM deliver critical care to uninsured individuals across greater Bluffton and Jasper County.
Join them in making a difference at Bourbon & Bubbly on May 14, 2026. Get your tickets today and help provide care for our uninsured neighbors: https://bit.ly/4c6x8BW
Thank you, NEXGEN, for being a part of this meaningful work. 💙💚
03/21/2026
We’re out at the Latitude Margaritaville Volunteer Fair this morning and would love to see you! Stop by and learn how you can make a difference with Bluffton Jasper County Volunteers in Medicine. We’ll be here until noon today.
We are currently seeking compassionate volunteers, including ophthalmologists, optometrists, retired physicians, nurses, and administrative support.
Join us in bringing Care, Compassion, Commitment, and Community to our uninsured neighbors. 💚
03/18/2026
Huge thank you to Glen from the South Carolina To***co Quitline for presenting to our staff and volunteers, equipping the BJVIM team with valuable tools and resources to better support our patients in quitting to***co for good.
With South Carolina’s to***co use rate at 19.8%, compared to the national average of 11.6%, access to education and cessation resources is critical.
Through Quitline services, patients have access to free coaching, online resources, and free ni****ne patches, gum, or lozenges for those who qualify. BJVIM patients can speak with their provider, call 1-800-QUIT-NOW, or visit quitnowsc.org to get started.
Partnerships like this help us advance whole-person wellness and strengthen the health of our community. 💚
03/17/2026
Never a dull moment at a BJVIM committee meeting! 🍀
Board member Luke Healy of showed up to our Bourbon & Bubbly planning meeting in full shamrock style - and we’re here for it.
If this is any indication, this year’s Bourbon & Bubbly Gala is going to be one to remember. 💚🥂 Tickets are on sale now! https://bjvim.org/gala/
03/12/2026
We are overwhelmed with gratitude to Church Mouse Boutique Thrift Shop for including BJVIM among this year’s grant recipients. Because of their generosity, we will be adding a podiatry chair to our Ridgeland clinic! This will allow our volunteer podiatrist, Dr. Hufford, to offer care at both clinics, improving access to specialized care for our Jasper County neighbors. 💚💙 A huge thank you to the Church Mouse staff, volunteers, and grant committee members who made this possible!
03/11/2026
We had a wonderful time last Friday celebrating International Women’s Day at the lovely brunch hosted by the . 🌸
Members of the BJVIM staff and our Ridgeland volunteers enjoyed connecting with so many inspiring women from across Jasper County who are making a difference in our community every day.
One of the highlights of the morning was creating flower vases using beautiful blooms from , a new U-pick flower farm in Hardeeville. It was such a fun and creative way to celebrate the day!
Thank you to the Chamber for bringing everyone together to recognize the strength, leadership, and impact of women in our community. 💜
03/09/2026
🏌️♂️ GET A 20% MATCH WHEN YOU GIVE TODAY!
and support compassionate healthcare for your uninsured neighbors through Birdies for Charity during the RBC Heritage!
When you make a pledge for every birdie scored during the tournament, 100% of your donation goes directly to BJVIM, plus the Heritage Classic Foundation adds a 20% bonus to your gift.
Your support helps provide free medical, dental, mental health care for the uninsured in our community.
We are deeply grateful to Moss Creek Charitable Fund for their generous grant supporting BJVIM’s Roadmap to Health Equity program, which identifies disparities and takes meaningful action to reduce them. This important work is only possible with the support of our community and collaboration with like-minded organizations.
We are thankful that shares our commitment to better health for all. 💙💚
Address
29 Plantation Park Drive, Building 600 Bluffton, SC 29910
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Bluffton Jasper County Volunteers In Medicine is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. With the dedicated service of volunteer physicians, nurses, and allied health professionals, the Bluffton Jasper VIM provides care to our friends and neighbors in Bluffton and Jasper County who are without medical insurance.
Our History
Volunteers in Medicine (VIM) began in Hilton Head, South Carolina. In 1992, one out of three people who lived on Hilton Head Island had no access to healthcare. At the same time, a number of retired medical personnel (physicians, nurses, dentists) began expressing an interest in finding a way to continue practicing their profession on a voluntary, part-time basis to help those without access to healthcare. Presently in the U.S., there are over 250,000 retired physicians; 350,000 nurses; and 40,000 dentists. Most are looking for a meaningful way to spend their retirement. The VIM model emphasizes the use of retired medical professionals to provide quality healthcare services in free clinics which focus on serving the needs of the uninsured.
In 2010 a group of concerned citizens recognized the need for a free clinic that would serve the town of Bluffton and Jasper County. On September 19, 2011 Bluffton Jasper County Volunteers in Medicine opened its doors and saw its first patient. Today the all-volunteer free medical clinic provides medical exams, counseling and nutritional services as well as preventative disease education to over 2,000 eligible uninsured residents in Greater Bluffton and Jasper County. In addition, radiological imaging and lab testing referrals are made for patients needing these services.
The clinic is staffed by caring and generous local physicians and nurses who donate their time and expertise to extend first class medical care to patients at the clinic. Office and administrative positions are filled by volunteers who answer the phones, greet patients and manage medical records and paperwork necessary to operate a busy clinic. In all, approximately 75 volunteers make the day to day operation of the clinic possible. The benefits of a clinic such as BJVIM are important and broad reaching: by helping people to stay healthy, they are more likely to stay employed and less likely to suffer from chronic illnesses. More families who previously did not have access to healthcare can now be educated to make healthy choices, learn to participate in their own health care and subsequently pass this valuable knowledge on to their children. Healthy families create healthy communities and in every way, a healthy community is a better community!
Bluffton-Jasper County Volunteers in Medicine is one of over 90 independent clinics under the guidance of the National Volunteers in Medicine Alliance. These clinics are a local solution to a national problem and seek to make primary healthcare accessible to a greater number of people in the community who have no insurance. Obviously, even with the excellent leadership and hard work of the volunteers, the success of the clinic would never have been possible and would not be sustained without the support of corporations and individuals who live in the community. The generosity of the people of Bluffton and Jasper County, citizens and corporations alike, who provide working partnerships, medical services and financial support is the key to making it all work.
Our Mission
The Mission of the Bluffton Jasper County Volunteers in Medicine is to provide free medical care in a compassionate and professional manner to the uninsured of great Bluffton and Jasper County with an emphasis on preventative medicine and health education.
Our Vision
No one in our community goes without access to quality health care.
Our Values
Caring – We are empathetic to any individual in our community with limited access to quality healthcare and we volunteer our time to serve those in need.
Compassion – We value and respect all human life and we selflessly serve to protect human dignity and improve the quality of life of our patients.
Commitment – We are dedicated to serving the needs of our patients and providing the highest level of professional healthcare
Community – We believe that responsible stewardship and investment of our donated resources into the continued health and well-being of our community is our highest calling.
