Kevin Jones
Jacksonville Daily Progress
BULLARD —
In Bullard, an organization called Mission House has been working since 2005 to better the community and the surrounding East Texas areas.
“I believe it was 2005 when I opened Mission House,” said Hazel Mason, mission coordinator for First United Methodist Church. “The intention of the Mission House was to be able to provide free food, clothing and medical care to those who are not able to care for themselves.”
Mason said as the organization grew, the idea that she had needed to be split because not enough space was available to adequately operate each part of the organization.
Today, the Mission House, located at 226 South Phillip St., is the base of operations for the food and clothing ministry.
The Christus House clinic is in a separate building located at 307 W. Cain St. in Bullard.
“The 226 South Phillip location is open every third Wednesday from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m.; the clinic is open every fourth Thursday from 8:15 a.m. until 3 p.m.,” Mason said.
Mason also said, because more volunteer staff has begun to work with the organization, in the near future the Christus House medical clinic is hoping to offer two days per month of medical treatment.
“Now, with our medical staff of four doctors and our Director and Registered Nurse Daisy Stevens, we hope to be able to add hours of service,” Mason said.
Stevens said while the clinic sees a lot of cases that are similar in nature, they are equipped to meet any medical need.
“We see a lot of chronic illness,” she said, “diabetes, COPD, things of that nature. But we can treat any illness.
“The actual clinic itself is open five days a week staffed by me, the doctors at this point are only here the one day per month.”
All food and clothing given out by the Mission House are donated from food banks and private donors.
The medical clinic is at a drastically reduced price from large medical practices.
A first time patient visit is $7 and each follow up is $5.
Patients pay for lab work, but it is also at a very reduced price.
“Our organization is a community wide service, not just from FUMC Bullard,” Mason said. “It’s the entire community who gets help.
“We do everything we can to help a patient. Our doctors are dedicated and well educated, and we wont turn anyone away.”
The Mission House welcomes people from local communities from Bullard, Troup, Jacksonville, Tyler and many other close locations.
Other ways the Mission House helps the community are by a school supply drive and a christmas gift drive, donations are always welcome for either of those projects as well as donations to the Mission House Food/Clothes ministry or the health clinic
To make an appointment with their organization or for more information, call 903-894-0109.
