В Менаше пройдет благотворительный концерт «Доза смеха» для поддержки пострадавших от торнадо

Clinic hosts “A Dose of Laughter” fundraiser Nov. 7 to support ongoing patient recovery through 2027 MENASHA, Wis. — Aug 27, 2026 — When a tornado tore through Menasha on July 27, it passed directly over Hope Clinic and Care Center, the only free and charitable clinic in the region providing both medical and mental health care at no cost to patients. Initial assessments suggested the building could remain closed for up to two weeks. Thanks to the rapid response of local utility crews and volunteers, Hope Clinic reopened after just one day, ensuring patients could keep accessing care at a critical time. A Response Built on Adaptation With power and connectivity disrupted across the area, staff used telehealth and mobile hot spots to maintain access to the clinic’s electronic health record system, allowing care to continue even before the physical space reopened. In the days that followed, the Hope Clinic team: ● Provided walk-in access for community members needing urgent care ● Distributed emergency supplies and coordinated donated resources, including support from Direct Relief ● Offered counseling support to neighboring local businesses affected by the storm ● Partnered with Walmart and Walgreens to help patients access prescriptions, and created a paper prescription template to maintain continuity of care during system disruptions ● Coordinated with the local school district to provide 32 sports physicals in the aftermath of the storm The Scale of the Response Since the tornado, Hope Clinic has documented 406 service encounters connected to the community’s recovery, including 147 office visits, 78 TeleTalk (telehealth behavioral health) encounters, 59 medication pick-ups, 50 counseling visits, 47 nurse visits, 17 care navigation visits, and 7 care management visits. “Our team didn’t stop to ask what was possible. They just started meeting the need in front of them,” said Christian Jensen, Executive Director of Hope Clinic and Care Center. “Whether that meant a phone hotspot to keep our records running or a conversation with a neighbor who lost everything, this is what it means to be a safety net for this community.” A Different Kind of Recovery Recovery isn’t only counseling sessions and medication refills — it’s also the community coming back together to laugh, celebrate, and reconnect. That’s the spirit behind Hope Clinic’s next chapter of this story. Looking Ahead: A Dose of Laughter As the Fox Valley continues to recover, Hope Clinic anticipates sustained need for medical, behavioral health, and care navigation support well into 2027. To help fund that ongoing recovery work, Hope Clinic will host A Dose of Laughter: An Evening of Hope, Love & Laughter, the clinic’s fall fundraiser, on Saturday, November 7, 2026. Doors open at 5:30 PM at The Fox Club at Fox Cities Stadium in Appleton, WI, for an evening of food, laughter, and generosity featuring comedian Fred Klett. Proceeds will directly support ongoing care and recovery services for patients affected by the tornado throughout 2027. Ticket and RSVP details: $65 – https://givebutter.com/c/DoseOfLaughter26. About Hope Clinic and Care Center Hope Clinic and Care Center is the only free and charitable clinic in the Fox Valley, providing both medical and mental health care at no cost to patients living at or below 300% of the Federal Poverty Level. Founded in 2015, Hope Clinic serves uninsured and underinsured neighbors across Outagamie, Calumet, and northern Winnebago counties through primary care, counseling, care management, and care navigation services. Learn more at hopeclinic.care.