Children's Clinic helps out on East Side and in all Western New York
9/29/2011 9:15:00 AM by KATHLEEN JOHNSON
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Patrick McPartland/Staff Photographer
Nurse Pat Dryer continues to help those in need at the St. Lawrence Church Family Clinic
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The Children’s Clinic at St. Lawrence Church, 1520 East Delavan Avenue in Buffalo has been providing primary and supplementary health care for children who live near the East Side of Buffalo. Primary health care for children including sick child care, physical exams and vaccinations is offered. If there is health insurance, the policy term governs; for others a small fee is charged. They also provide referrals for low or no cost health insurance. No child will be turned away for inability to pay. Last year they saw over 1,000 children.
Mary Weisenburger, co-pastoral administrator with her husband Deacon Paul Weisenburger, describes how the clinic brings members of the community together.
“We do not just serve the East Side neighborhood or our parish,” said Weisenburger. “It is a beautiful little United Nations here. We serve people from all religions here from Native Americans to Muslims, and we serve people from all over Western New York.”
Weisenburger went on to explain how the establishment of the clinic has affected the parish.
“On the whole, St. Lawrence is a giver not a receiver,” she said. “We are living out what Jesus wanted us to do and reach out to the poor. All of our ministries work together. We offer food, clothes, counseling, a chapel to pray in and the clinic. Our parishioners are proud of that. It follows through to who St. Lawrence was. He reached out to the poor. Our parishioners are proud of what we do and try to be hospitable to everyone. The result is spiritual growth as a group and as individuals.”
Luke and Patricia Dyer established the clinic in 2005 with the permission of their Pastor, Father Paul Seil. The clinic is located in the Franciscan guest house behind St Lawrence Church, which previously was the convent.
The clinic is available for walk-ins 9 a.m. to noon on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Other times may be available for appointment. Call 716-308-6302 or visit www.stlawrencepediatrics.com.