Samaritan Health Ministries

From its unconventional venue, the decade-old nonprofit serves uninsured adults and children in the community, regardless of income, for a sliding scale fee of $10–$40 per visit based on income and family size. Pratt said some patients are unemployed without a health insurance plan, although others have jobs but cannot afford insurance premiums.

"The reason we serve that population is because we don't feel like they have another resource," she said. "I'm very passionate about the belief that it shouldn't matter if you have insurance or a certain kind of job or the right amount of money. People need to have access to quality health care."

Samaritan Health Ministries provides preventative, chronic illness and dental services, medicine and supplies as well as a monthly mental health clinic. Volunteers and donations make the nonprofit successful, Pratt said, but with limited resources, even patients pitch in around the clinic.

"The thing is, if they are helping me and I can help them, well, I should help them," said Raul De Lara, who has utilized Samaritan Health Ministries the past nine years.

De Lara said the staff welcomed him and his family from the beginning, so he wanted to return the favor.

"I stripped the flooring in the bathroom; I put in new floors, and I painted the walls," he said. "I started doing some work with whatever I can."

Samaritan Health Ministries needs

• Defibrillator ($1,750)
• Spot monitor ($2,635)
• Spirometer ($1,810)
• 8 hand sanitizer dispensers ($10.92 each)
• 4 towel dispensers ($56.68 each)
• 4 provider stools ($104.61 each)
• Exam table with top ($1,150)
• Replacement exam table top ($578.14)
• 4 diagnostic sets ($1,086 each)

Samaritan Health Ministries, 700A W. Whitestone Blvd., Cedar Park, 331-5828, www.theshm.org