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'This gave me purpose': Nonprofit offers free health care to uninsured residents

Care Ring spent four hours outside the Mecklenburg County Courthouse Wednesday offering free health care to the uninsured and underinsured.

MECKLENBURG COUNTY, N.C. — A community effort to help the uninsured and underinsured get the medical care they need gave some disappointed voters the drive they needed to get out of bed on Wednesday.

The nonprofit Care Ring partnered with the Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Office and others Wednesday afternoon to offer free health screenings, vaccinations and community resources. It all started with an idea by community activist Gemini Boyd, a peer support/social worker with the Mecklenburg County Public Defender's Office.

"It gave me the momentum to want to get up and get back out there and get in the flow of things of helping people," Boyd said. "That's all I want to do, so this gave me purpose and reason today."

With the support of Sheriff Garry McFadden, Care Ring held the event just outside the courthouse to provide access to those marginalized. At least 20 people participated throughout the day.

"I want to see people get the care that they need," Care Ring Programming Director Stephanie Malloy said.

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