Long, long before the Affordable Care Act, the Community Nurse Health Center of La Grange has been providing low-cost or no-cost healthcare for patients in financial need. Yet, there are people in the community who don’t know it exists.
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Even after 95 years.
“It’s always surprising when we learn that some people don’t know we have a medical and dental center right here in downtown La Grange,” said Director of Development Ellen Kunkle. “We’ve been here for a really long time and we saw over 4,200 patients here last year, totaling something like for 20,000 visits.
“When people need our services, they tend to find us, but there are a lot of people who don’t know we’re around.”
What can a director of development do in a situation like that? Well, for one thing, you can throw a really big wingding fundraiser that will make as much noise and generate as much excitement as possible. And that’s precisely what Kunkle is doing Sept. 17, making a special event of the year’s biggest fundraiser by bringing back a favorite of local doctors and other healthcare professionals — the lobster bake.
“People in the medical community go to a lot of higher-end fundraisers, so I think they enjoy the change to something more casual,” said Kunkle.
The lobster bake originated at La Grange Hospital a quarter century ago before it was taken over ands run by the Community Nurse women’s auxiliary for many years. Needing a break, the organization suspended the lobster bake back in 2004. It’s still popular, however, so they’ve reinstated it as a special part of their 95th anniversary celebration.
Other features of the gala evening in the Hinsdale Community House include cocktails and live jazz at 6 p.m., followed by the dinner, with non-seafood options available, and a program recognizing “community health champions” (the numerous doctors who have volunteered as specialists). The evening includes a wine pull, limited-ticket raffles with prizes like a trip to St. Lucia, an at-home lobster bake for 10, plus dancing to the band Enough Said. Dr. Ken Nelson (for many year’s Community Nurse’s volunteer medical director) and his wife Karen are event chairs and former WLS-TV news producer Teri Goudie will serve as emcee.
A quick word about this “lobster bake” business to avoid any confusion. The lobsters at this bash will be boiled, not baked, No one knows where the “bake” misnomer originated, but they will be served on plates instead of piled up on a table as the would in a traditional lobster boil.
It all supports Community Nurse, which has managed to continue serving patients in need for nearly a century, according to Kunkle, because it has always adapted itself to the needs of the community.
After beginning in 1921 with the hiring of the very first community nurse (hence the organization’s name) primarily committed to children’s healthcare, the Community Nurse Health Center has a paid medical staff of 50, including two full-time doctors, a nurse practitioner, a staff of medical assistants and a part-time psychiatrist. The organization also provides dental care with two full-time dentists, one full-time hygienist and a support staff.
In 2012, Community Nurse (managing partner of the Healthcare Network of the Western Suburbs) was designated a federally qualified health center, allowing the organization to extend its services to senior citizens.
“Now we really run through the whole life cycle, from expectant moms to our oldest residents,” Kunkle said. “And we really place an emphasis on preventive care. We’re trying to keep people healthy and out of the local emergency room, because that’s not good for anyone.”
Rocking the lobster: Community Nurse Health Center celebrates its 95th anniversary by featuring an old favorite at its Sept. 17 fundraiser
Lobster Bake Fundraiser
Supporting: Community Nurse Health Center, La Grange
Time: 6 to 11 p.m. Sept. 17
Location: Community House, 415 W. 8th Street, Hinsdale
Tickets: $195
Information: 708-352-0081 or communitynurse.org
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