Just a few weeks ago we initiated chiropractic care at our drop in. What an amazing outreach!
Dr. Greg Payne from Ottawa came to us last fall and offered his services to our guests at the drop in. He took our Urban Intervention Training, and just a few weeks ago, he came with his portable adjustment table and a heart to serve the poor. Calm and unassuming, Dr. Payne spends time with each of our street friends who are suffering in their bodies, and makes appropriate chiropractic adjustments.
What a hit! Our street friends have warmly accepted the treatments and the kindness of the good doctor. More than ‘treating patients’, Dr. Payne genuinely cares for each of his new patients.
No hassles. No appointments. No penetrating ‘interview’ about the history of each injury. No fees.
I sat and watched for three or four of the treatments. Dignity, respect, compassion and help are the mainstays of this new development at Ottawa Innercity Ministries. When things slowed down somewhat, I took time to visit with the doctor and noticed the sign up sheet had two columns: ‘New patients’ and ‘Returning Patients’. Interesting that the ‘Returning Patients’ had more names – probably about twenty-eight in all.
Words of appreciation warmly spoken. One man just could not believe that he could feel so much better immediately after his first treatment!
Some of the participants moved right from the chiropractic table over to the Touch Care area and enjoyed a relaxing light back massage.
I marveled at the beauty of it all: people sharing their gifts and talents and abilities with those in need. At the other side of the room, two volunteers were doing foot care and Rudy was faithfully cutting hair at the entrance to the room.
We have been given so much. When I see how others ‘Pay it Forward’, it strikes a chord deep in my own heart. It just seems so just, so right, so good to pool our resources and do what we can to change our own, and others’ worlds.
How do you think you could do your part, with your own gifts and talents? Call me. We can talk.