BRISTOL, Tenn. (WJHL) — Eastman Credit Union (ECU) made a donation of $100,000 to Healing Hands Health on Thursday to assist in renovating its facility.
The Building Health, Inspiring Hope campaign aims to expand Healing Hands’ healthcare services through facility renovations. This nonprofit is dedicated to offering quality, affordable care to people in need in the Tri-Cities region.
In 2023, Healing Hands acquired the building next to its Bristol, Tennessee location, effectively linking the two structures. The clinic is upgrading the second building to house both medical and behavioral health services together.
“We currently have three different buildings, and our staff has been a little spread out,” stated Healing Hands Health Executive Director Helen Scott. “So our medical, behavioral health, our two community health workers, our Ballad navigator, and our patient eligibility will move over here into this building.”
The ECA donation will finance the nonprofit’s Pharmacy Student Workspace, which will support training for Appalachian College of Pharmacy students.
“Eastman Credit Union is honored to support Healing Hands Health in its mission to provide compassionate, comprehensive care to those in need,” ECU president and CEO Kelly Price said in a statement. “We know many generous individuals and organizations have already stepped up to support this campaign, and we hope our contribution inspires others to do the same. Healing Hands is doing exceptional work to improve access to both medical and behavioral health services, and this new facility will make a lasting impact on the well-being of the communities we serve.”
Scott said the nonprofit saw the importance of addressing behavioral health needs during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We’re trying to help with the stigma, and we’re trying to help people through medication, through counseling,” Scott said. “We just want to do what we can to help our uninsured patients.”
According to Scott, the renovations are about 75% completed, and builders expect to complete work in January. Healing Hands Health will move in either in February or March.
