Volunteers In Medicine in Schuylkill & Carbon Counties

01/02/2026

This news is just out. Health insurance will be rising $186% in Schuylkill County. Volunteers in Medicine is here to help those that are in need.
Call us to make an appointment.

01/02/2026

WHAT MAKES VOLUNTEERS IN MEDICINE UNIQUE...and different from
other noble, non-revenue-driven organizations?

While all of these organizations do good work, VIM occupies a unique niche that appeals to those looking for local, sustainable, and relationship-based impact.

​Here is a comparison of VIM against three other major types of non-profit healthcare models to help you make a persuasive case.

​1. VIM vs. International Crisis Groups
​Comparison: Doctors Without Borders (MSF) or Mercy Ships
​These organizations are famous for high-intensity, life-saving work in crisis zones or underserved foreign nations.
​The Difference:
​VIM is Local: Instead of flying to a war zone or a developing nation, VIM serves the "hidden" neighbors—the uninsured working poor in your own community. It appeals to the desire to "bloom where you are planted."
​Sustainability vs. Emergency: Crisis groups often leave once the immediate emergency is over. VIM clinics are permanent fixtures, building trust and community health over decades.

​Workforce: MSF often requires active-duty professionals ready for grueling conditions. VIM is specifically designed for retired or semi-retired professionals, allowing them to extend their careers in a low-stress, high-joy environment.

​The Convincing Argument for VIM:
​"If you want to see the direct impact of your work on the streets you drive every day, choose VIM. It allows retired experts to give back without the physical demands of crisis medicine, creating a long-term safety net for our own community."

​2. VIM vs. Pop-Up Event Models
​Comparison: Remote Area Medical (RAM)
​RAM organizes massive, weekend-long pop-up clinics in fairgrounds or stadiums, treating thousands of people in days.
​The Difference:
​Continuity of Care: RAM provides incredible episodic care (pulling a tooth, checking vision), but they cannot treat chronic conditions like diabetes or hypertension effectively because they are gone in 48 hours. VIM provides a "medical home," managing chronic diseases year-round.
​Patient Experience: Pop-up clinics often involve patients waiting in line for hours (or days) in the cold. VIM clinics operate by appointment in facilities that look and feel like private practices, preserving patient dignity.
​The Convincing Argument for VIM:
​"VIM doesn't just put a band-aid on a problem; it cures it. By offering a permanent medical home, we treat the root causes of chronic disease that kill the working poor, treating patients with the dignity of a private appointment rather than a long line in a parking lot."

​3. VIM vs. Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs)
​Comparison: Community Health Centers (government-subsidized clinics)
​FQHCs are safety-net clinics that receive federal funding and charge patients on a sliding scale based on income.

​The Difference:
​The "Gap" Population: FQHCs are vital, but they are often overwhelmed and must charge small fees. VIM targets those who fall through the cracks—often making too much for Medicaid but not enough for insurance—and charges $0.
​Bureaucracy vs. Freedom: Because VIM relies on philanthropy rather than government billing, providers are free from the "billing treadmill." They can spend 45 minutes with a patient if needed, rather than the industry-standard 15 minutes.
​Culture: VIM is famous for its "Culture of Caring." Since everyone is a volunteer, no one is "working for the weekend." The atmosphere is often described as joyful and pure medicine.

​The Convincing Argument for VIM:
​"VIM is medicine the way it used to be. Because we don't rely on insurance billing or government quotas, our doctors can actually listen. It’s the only place where the provider and the patient are both there solely because they want to be."
The "VIM Magic"
Ultimately, the unique "special sauce" of VIM is the restoration of the doctor-patient relationship.
In a VIM clinic, no money changes hands. The doctor is not there for a paycheck, and the patient is not there to be processed. This creates a pure therapeutic relationship based solely on trust and gratitude, which Dr. McConnell described as "healing the spirit" of both the patient and the physician.
Would you like to know how to find a VIM clinic near you, or how to get involved as a non-medical volunteer?

Call us 570-617-4620

12/19/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/17t1XMyt9Q/

POTTSVILLE — The director of a local medical nonprofit is proposing an ambitious community facility that would house a clinical care center alongside art and performance venues. Bob Alonge, CEO of …

12/18/2025

As the year draws to a close, we are deeply grateful for the generosity of Mayor-Elect Tom Smith, who has donated his entire mayoral salary to Volunteers in Medicine. This incredible gift will help us further our mission of providing free, compassionate healthcare and mental health services to adults in Pottsville and throughout Schuylkill and Carbon Counties who are uninsured or underinsured.

This season of giving reminds us that every contribution—whether time, resources, or financial support—makes a meaningful impact. With the help of dedicated community leaders, volunteers, and donors, we can continue ensuring that financial circumstances never stand in the way of quality medical care.

If you’re able, please consider supporting our mission with a year-end, tax-deductible donation or by giving your time. Together, we can build a healthier future for our neighbors.

👉 Donate now and make an immediate impact:
https://gofund.me/7d0e3cd38

🌐 Learn more: www.vimscc.org

📍 1 S. 2nd St. (3rd floor), Pottsville, PA 17901

12/16/2025

https://conta.cc/4aU03Zh

Email from +15706174620 Celebrate with us as we look back at the past year together.       Our Year in Review As we close out the year, we're filled with gratitude for the moments we've shared with yo

12/16/2025

Thanks Yockos

Thank you Robert Alonge for organizing a dine in night at Yocko’s to sponsor Schuylkill county volunteers in medicine!

12/09/2025

Thank you for joining us yesterday! ❤️🍽️🎶

A heartfelt thank-you to everyone who came out to support Volunteers in Medicine during yesterday’s dine-in event at Yocko’s Bar & Grill. Your presence, generosity, and kindness help us continue providing free, compassionate medical care to those in our community who need it most.

We’re also deeply grateful to the wonderful musicians who performed throughout the day. 🎵 Your talent and willingness to donate your time brought so much joy and created such a welcoming atmosphere.

To everyone who shared a meal, listened to the music, or helped spread the word — thank you. Your support truly makes a difference. 💛

If you’d like to learn more about our mission, upcoming events, or ways to get involved, please visit us at https://vimscc.org/

12/07/2025

Mark your calendars! 📆❤️
This Sunday, December 8th — all day long!

Join us at Yocko’s Bar & Grill for great food, live music, and an even greater cause. Every bite you enjoy helps support Volunteers in Medicine, the only free clinic serving our community. 🎶🍽️

Bring your friends, enjoy the atmosphere, and make a meaningful difference while you dine. 💙

📍 Minersville
📞 570-617-4620
🌐 vimscc.org

12/06/2025

Dear VIM Community,

As we close out the calendar year and enter this season of light, joy, and reflection, my heart is filled with profound gratitude for the mission we share. VOLUNTEERS IN MEDICINE thrives every day because of the unwavering generosity, steadfast faith, and shared purpose of our entire community—from our dedicated clinicians and staff to our committed supporters and partners.

Our “Culture of Caring” is more than a guiding principle; it is the sustaining force that powers our clinics. It comes to life in the skillful hands and generous spirits of every volunteer, nurse practitioner, and team member who gives their time and expertise so selflessly. Thank you for ensuring healthcare remains accessible to our neighbors, for treating every patient with dignity, and for showing up with compassion and excellence. Your commitment is what drives VIM forward.

As we look ahead to a new year, our need for your continued partnership is more important than ever. The essential services we provide depend on the collective support of our community to carry us through the winter months and into 2026. If VIM’s mission touches your heart, I invite you to consider making a special, tax-deductible year-end gift. Your generosity ensures our doors stay open and our light continues to shine for all who need care.

Unlike many organizations, VIM receives no federal funding. Our ability to provide free, compassionate care depends entirely on the generous support of community members—neighbors like you. We are sustained by the very communities we serve.

If you believe that every member of our community deserves access to a Free Medical Clinic, please consider becoming a "Sustainer" by donating as little as $20 a month.

Right now, Volunteers in Medicine is working tirelessly to meet the critical healthcare needs of our working, uninsured neighbors in Schuylkill and Carbon Counties. People are coming to us for everything from essential preventive care to chronic disease management, all at no cost to them.

A gift of $50 can provide a full patient visit.

$100 can supply crucial medications for a family.

Every dollar you contribute goes directly to our daily operational expenses, ensuring care is available when and where it's needed most. No matter the size, every donation has a direct and immediate impact.

May the days ahead bring you comfort, hope, and the deep satisfaction of knowing your support strengthens a community that truly makes a difference. May you feel uplifted by VIM, and may you, in turn, be a source of strength and light to others.

With heartfelt gratitude, warm wishes for a Merry Christmas, and high hopes for a healthy New Year,
Bob Alonge
Please Donate Today

Donate Now and make an immediate impact:

https://gofund.me/7d0e3cd38

Thank you for consider

An Urgent Appeal to Support Free Healthcare in Our Community … Robert Alonge needs your support for Help VIM Provide Free Medical Care Today