BCUW Awards Disaster Relief Funds to Good Samaritan Clinic

Morganton, NC — Following significant losses due to recent power outages, Good Samaritan Clinic has taken strategic action to prevent future disasters from impacting patient care. The clinic experienced a devastating loss of hundreds of thousands of dollars' worth of medication during the hurricane-related outages. Although 90% of the medications were ultimately recouped, the event underscored the urgent need for reliable backup power.

In response, the Good Samaritan Clinic identified a project to protect its medication supply and ensure continuity of care during future emergencies. The total cost of the project was $27,200, and the Burke County Community Foundation contributed $10,000 toward the effort. Thanks to generous contributions from individuals across the region to the Burke County United Way (BCUW) Hurricane Relief Fund, the remaining funds were secured to bring the project to completion.

On Wednesday, April 9, Burke County United Way presented a check for $17,200 to Good Samaritan Clinic to finalize the purchase and installation of a Generac generator—a critical investment that will safeguard temperature-sensitive medication during power outages.

“This is exactly the kind of impact we envisioned when launching the Hurricane Relief Fund,” said Maureen “Mo” Schwind, Executive Director at BCUW. “We are deeply grateful to every donor who contributed. Your generosity has made it possible to protect the health and well-being of some of our most vulnerable neighbors.”

Amy Eades Fisher, Executive Director of Good Samaritan Clinic, also shared her appreciation: “We are incredibly grateful for this generous support from our community partners. With this funding, we can ensure that our doors stay open and our medicines stay safe, no matter the weather. This investment strengthens our ability to serve our community with dignity, consistency, and care.”

The new generator will provide continuous power to the Clinic’s storage systems, ensuring that life-saving medications are preserved, even in the face of severe weather events.

Burke County residents (those with established residency at the time of the hurricane) may apply for Hurricane Relief assistance at bcuw.org/helene-application. This application, which is provided in English and in Spanish, is intended for unmet needs; it is not available for reimbursement of past expense.