FQHC rebuilds new Water Tower facility across the street after fire
By Joia Williamson
Of The St. Louis American
Grace Hill Water Tower Health Center had its grand opening on April 30, with the official day of service starting May 1.
The old center last year caught on fire, and Grace Hill rebuilt another center across the street. Though temporary displacement took place in the College Hill neighborhood, the center received lots of support from the community, employees and government officials such as Governor Jay Nixon, state Senator Robin-Wright Jones and Alderman Freeman Bosley Sr.
Alan O. Freeman, president and CEO of Grace Hill Neighborhood Health Centers Inc., greeted everyone from workers of Grace Hill to people from the community checking out the new facility.
“It was a trying time for many and most importantly our patients. It was a trying time for those people who had come to us for so many years for our services,” Freeman said of the interruption in service caused by the fire.
“The residents of our neighborhoods deserve the very best in quality care and in service. This is and will continue to be our passion.”
Wright-Jones gave encouraging words to the employees of Grace Hill. She said, “Your heart is in its path of delivery and service.”
Nixon explained how some projects within the state were suspended or ended to make sure funds would go to the communities that needed them the most, such as Grace Hill. Nixon also explained how important it is to embrace a health center such as Grace Hill that accepts everyone, even those without health insurance.
“Each of us here knows how vital this center is. This is health care with a mission,” Nixon said.
State Rep. James T. Morris, who is pastor of Lane Tabernacle C.M.E. Church, reminded the audience how important it is to take care of each other.
“It’s about people coming together caring for another,” the Rev. Morris said.
After the ceremony, employees of Grace Hill received balloons as a symbol. Letting the balloons go symbolizes forgetting the past and moving towards the future.
Everyone got a chance to walk through the facility and was greeted with information, food and drinks. In one room a video called Out of the Ashes showed how Grace Hill overcame obstacles including the fire damage to the old facility.
Staci Bryant, a social worker at Grace Hill Water Tower Health Center, came out to support the grand opening.
“I am impressed with the support of the community and glad to see Grace Hill rebuilt in the same community. I think it’ll will be a good addition to the community,” Bryant said.
Grace Hill Neighborhood Health Centers Inc. is a federally qualified health center that provides primary and preventive health care at six locations in St. Louis. The new Water Tower Health Center is 18,500 feet in floor space, with added capacity for doctors, dentists and other clinicians. Grace Hill anticipates increasing access to care by at least 30 percent.
For more information, visit www.gracehill.org or call (314)898-1700.