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Mason City Clinic’s Paul Pulford Makes Meaningful Connection With Young Students in Uganda Through Mission Travel
Last January, Paul Pulford, Mason City Clinic’s Asst. Office Manager of Orthopedics and Radiology, traveled to Kampala, Uganda to help local students, ages 15-21, learn English. It was part of a mission trip with International Messenger of Clear Lake which is associated with his church, Grace Evangelical Free Church. They worked along side Sojourn Church in Kampala.
Paul Pulford surrounded by students on his mission trip to Kampala, Uganda
Paul along with seven other adult leaders led a week long camp for about 60 students at the local African Children’s Choir School. Paul’s mission group used the Bible to teach English to the students and help them with their conversational English. It was also an opportunity to talk about faith.
Paul Pulford and his students on his mission trip to Kampala, Uganda
The students who came to camp live in extreme poverty in Kampala and usually only eat one meal a day; some go without eating for a few days at a time. At camp they eat three meals a day. There are also plenty of other activities for the kids like soccer, water balloon fights, singing and coloring.
Said Paul, “The kids are amazing - they have smiles on their faces every day, they are interactive, sharing and appreciate everything.”
“We bring coloring books for the students and they love to color. What was surprising to me is how well the male students color,” Paul adds.
Paul has kept in contact with a few of the campers by email, building on the relationship and encouraging them in school work, checking in on how their life is going.
Kampala neighborhood where students reside
One day last year during camp some of the adult leaders took a trip to the section of town where the students live and to one family’s small three room hut where six children and two parents live. The mother along with some other women in town have a sewing project selling their wares at the market to make money for the family. The group Paul was with asked that she send her work to the States so they could sell her work in Iowa. Which they have.
Paul is looking forward to returning this January, 2020 to Kampala to continue his work with the students at the camp.
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Food Drive for North Iowa Families in Need
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Clinic staff participate in feeding families and individuals in need through annual food drive
Food insecurity is the harsh reality for about 342,000 people living in Iowa, many of whom are senior citizens, and families with children, and they don’t know where their next meal is coming from. Food insecurity may reflect a household’s need to make trade-offs between important basic needs, such as housing or utility bills, and purchasing nutritionally adequate foods.
The Hawkeye Harvest Food Bank in Mason City was organized in the fall of 1981 as a community project to meet a growing need for food in North Iowa. Every Thanksgiving season the staff at Mason City Clinic collect nonperishable food and household goods over a two week period to donate to the Food Bank.
The growing donation of food and household items brought in by Mason City Clinic staff that was delivered to the food bank on Friday, November 22. .
Mason City Clinic’s Deb Hudson (left) and Crystal Heitland (right) help get the donated food and household items into the Hawkeye Food Bank van.
Crystal Heitland (right) helping get boxes of food from the Mason City Clinic food drive into the Hawkeye Food Bank van. All food and household goods are set to get to individuals and
families in need in time for the holidays.
Thanks to all who participated in the Hawkeye Harvest Food Bank this year. 382 items were donated, Denim Day raised an additional $286.50 and the raffle raised $891. Raffle winners were Joni Draper, Krissy Korenberg
and Cassidy Ryan.
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Mason City Clinic Thanksgiving Luncheon
Each year, Thanksgiving comes a little bit early for doctors, staff and retirees at the Mason City Clinic’s Thanksgiving potluck — the Mason City Clinic physicians treat everyone to turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy, and the staff bring in a bountiful of additional sides for all to enjoy.
Several longtime retired physicians and many retired staff come as well. They love seeing those they have worked with that are still working, and those that have followed them into retirement.
The annual Thanksgiving potluck took place on Friday, November 22nd.
(Left to right) Retired Orthopedic Surgeon, Dr. Robert McCoy shares a Thanksgiving meal and conversation with Dr. Phillip Lee, Otolaryngology and Sleep Medicine
(From left to right) Retirees Kathy Kallas, Denise Rottinghaus, Sue Hiatt, Monroe McCoy, Becky Thoms, and Ann Trump
Standing in line at the Thanksgiving buffet is (right to left): Christine Mason (urology reception), Marlene Nitchals (ENT reception), Linda Smith (transcription), Sue Teggatz (Transcription)
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On behalf of all the doctors and staff of Mason City Clinic, we wish you and yours a very happy Thanksgiving.
To Your Health,
Mason City Clinic
PH: 641-494-5200
https://www.mcclinic.com
250 S. Crescent Drive
Mason City, IA 50401
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