Arlington Free Clinic

07/18/2025

Emely, AFC's amazing Community Resource Navigator, and her intern Lisbel spent yesterday at the Barcroft Apartments Community Resource Fair, sharing information about Arlington Free Clinic with local residents. We love connecting with our neighbors and helping spread the word about the services AFC provides!

07/09/2025

AFC was mentioned in a recent ARLnow article regarding the potential impacts of Medicaid cuts on Arlington County residents.

“Whatever the cause, factors that lead to a loss of coverage impact all of us and are a clear reminder of AFC’s importance as the healthcare safety net option of last resort,” CEO Lesley Daigle told ARLnow. “The role we play in the Arlington community has never been more important.”

Check out the full article using the link below.

Federal cuts to Medicaid and food-assistance programs are expected to place greater strain on Arlington's most vulnerable residents and the social services that support them. Arlington County officials, health-care workers and nonprofits are still scrambling to determine the local impacts of the new...

07/08/2025

We're excited to announce AFC's latest additions to Leadership Center of Arlington Lead & Ignite Classes of 2026!

Beth Gorman, Director of Development, joins the Lead Class, designed to connect established leaders and inspire them to transform and support our community. Leigh-Ann Carter Sinclair, Clinical Program Manager, joins the Ignite Class, which allows leaders to hone skills and explore personal and professional leadership development as they create real impact with local nonprofits.

Congratulations to both! See the full class lists below.

🎉 Announcing the Lead and Ignite Classes of 2026!

We are thrilled to welcome a dynamic group of professionals to the Lead and Ignite leadership development programs.

We look forward to helping these leaders connect and learn from one another and providing opportunities for personal and professional community impact.

🔗 Read the announcement to learn who is in the Classes of 2026: https://www.leadercenter.org/press-releases/introducing-the-lead-and-ignite-classes-of-2026/

📅 The programs begin this fall and run through April 2026, culminating in our annual Leadership Summit in May.

Join us in celebrating these emerging and established leaders.

07/08/2025

World Skin Health Day (WSHD), celebrated annually on July 8th, raises awareness, improves access to care, and supports individuals living with skin conditions around the world.

At Arlington Free Clinic, we’re doing our part to reduce health disparities by ensuring our patients have access to care and other essential skin health resources, especially those who work long hours outdoors and face barriers to basic protection like sunscreen.

Help us provide care beyond the exam room by donating sunscreen from our Amazon Wish List! Your support ensures we can offer patients the protection they need all year long.

You can find our wish list using the link below:
https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/1V9U5D30S9GEB?ref_=wl_share

07/03/2025

We are honored to share that we have been chosen as 1 of 7 organizations to receive general operating support multi-year grants from the Northern Virginia Health Foundation — $380,000 total over the next three years! This is part of an historic $2.6 million total investment by NVHF across the seven organizations building stronger, healthier communities in Northern Virginia.

Learn more at the link below:

The Northern Virginia Health Foundation is committed to going “beyond grantmaking” to make a difference in the health and well-being of Northern Virginians by providing data, resources and tools to help the community be and stay healthy.

07/01/2025

Join us for a lively evening at The Celtic House Irish Pub & Restaurant with Malarkey, Arlington’s favorite all-female Irish jig band! The music starts at 6:30, and all donations from the night will support Arlington Free Clinic and the comprehensive healthcare we provide to our patients. We hope to see you there!

06/30/2025

Today is the last day of AFC's fiscal year, but there is still time to make a difference! A generous donor is matching all gifts up to $50,000, meaning your contribution will go twice as far to ensure our patients receive the affordable, high-quality healthcare they deserve.

If you have already given this year, we send you our heartfelt thanks - if not, you still have time to help us finish our 2025 fiscal year strong! Check out the link below to donate now:

https://arlingtonfreeclinic.org/june-matching-gift-opportunity/

06/27/2025

AFC would be nothing without its amazing volunteers! Our staff who work alongside them have a unique perspective on how their service impacts the Clinic and our patients. Each month we highlight a volunteer nominated by one of our staff to honor their hard work. For the month of June, Andera Bedregal, Nurse Manager, has nominated Gary Gardner, Volunteer Spanish Interpreter.

Gary is part of our Thursday evening volunteer crew and is always ready to step in and help where needed. Andrea nominated him for his calming presence and kind heart that makes every patient feel heard and at ease during their appointments. Additionally, Gary’s dedication and willingness to grow his interpreting skills stands out. He recognized areas where he could improve and proactively reached out to staff for additional training and feedback from fellow volunteers. That session was a success and strengthened both his skills and confidence.

We are so grateful for Gary and his dedication to providing the best possible care to our patients every week!

06/26/2025

Thank you to the Arlington Women’s Civic Alliance for raising $25,000 in support of our Women’s Health program and breast cancer initiatives at AFC! We are grateful to AWCA President Angie Wilcox and Treasurer Kathleen McKenna (pictured here), and to all the incredible women behind this generous gift supporting such vital care for our patients.

06/25/2025

At AFC, we understand that health is shaped by more than just access to medical care. Social determinants of health - including income, education, housing, food security, and employment - play a critical role in shaping health outcomes.

Read a letter from Dr. Joan Ritter, AFC’s Medical Director, in our spring newsletter below to learn how we use data and community partnerships to meet our patients’ broader needs.

https://bit.ly/afcspringnewsletter2025

06/25/2025

Last year, free and charitable clinics and pharmacies provided care to 1.7 million Americans! We’re proud to be part of the National Association of Free & Charitable Clinics (NAFC) and to stand alongside others working to ensure that quality, accessible healthcare is available to all.

📊 The 2025 NAFC Data Report is here!

This year’s findings confirm what we’ve long known: Free and charitable clinics & pharmacies are the backbone of care for millions of uninsured and underserved Americans.

From rising patient demand to expanded mental health services, this data tells the story of a healthcare safety net under pressure, and rising to meet the moment.

Explore the full report 👉 https://ow.ly/FlEQ50WfvaX

06/18/2025

Meet Maria Greene, one of AFC's volunteer interpreters! For over a decade, Maria has been a steady, compassionate presence at Arlington Free Clinic. She has interpreted in a variety of roles, including primary care, intake, discharge, and eventually settling into physical therapy, where she and Irene Hruskoci, a longtime physical therapist, formed a dynamic duo until Irene's retirement last year.

Read more about Maria’s journey, including a new way she plans to stay involved, in our spring newsletter here.

https://bit.ly/afcspringnewsletter2025