Building Renovations: Press Release

Boyne Area Free Clinic and Good Neighbors Food Pantry Launch $500,000 Campaign to Repair Shared Building and Grow  

The Boyne Area Free Clinic (BAFC) and Good Neighbors Food Pantry of Boyne City (GNFP) have launched a $500,000 campaign to repair their shared building and support the growing needs of their local community. 

Within their shared building on State Street in Boyne City, the clinic and food pantry work independently to support community members in need. Currently serving more than 1,200 patients each year, the volunteer medical team at BAFC provides primary healthcare to all individuals regardless of their ability to pay; no one is denied a medical evaluation, and medications and medical supplies are provided at no cost.

GNFP provides healthy food and other resources to neighbors in need, feeding an average of 65 households per week – representing food for more than 200 adults and children – completely free of charge. The food pantry’s volunteers prioritize good nutrition by offering fresh produce, protein options, and dairy products.

Today, the two organizations are announcing a campaign to repair their shared building and ensure a safe and secure space to continue serving their community. The campaign will support much-needed repairs to the building’s exterior, including replacing the roof, siding, doors, and windows, updating the parking lot, exterior lighting, and HVAC system, as well as interior renovations and accessibility upgrades to help the building become fully ADA-compliant.

The campaign, which has a fundraising goal of $500,000, has $400,000 pledged and is seeking donations to help the two organizations reach their final goal.

“We are so thankful to the donors who have already given, their early support has brought this campaign to life. Many local donors like Jim and Sharon White and others stepped up early to ensure this campaign would be kicked off with success.” says Susan Conklin, GNFP Board President.

“Boyne City has always been a compassionate community that wants to help those in need. I’m glad the building will become a permanent debt free building in Boyne City for many years to come,” said Jim White, a lead donor to the project.

“These physical improvements are essential repairs that must be completed for us to remain open, feeding and healing our community,”  said Conklin.

With winter coming soon, the two organizations have recently begun the exterior repair work to ensure the roof can be replaced before the cold weather arrives. Both organizations will remain open and will continue serving those in need during construction.

The two organizations have also received a generous grant from the Herrick Foundation, which will match all donations up to $100,000 to help close out the campaign.

“This is an incredible opportunity to double your impact,” said Julie Schmittdiel, Board Secretary at BAFC. “If you have been thinking about supporting this project, now is the time to give. Every donation will be doubled, helping us to reach our goal, complete renovations, and keep our clinic and pantry open for our community’s most vulnerable.”

Donations to the campaign can be made online through the Charlevoix County Community Foundation by visiting C3F.org and selecting the Boyne Area Free Clinic/Good Neighbors Food Pantry Special Project Fund. You can also call Julie Schmittdiel at (312) 286-4101 or Susan Conklin at (231) 675-0742 to learn more about the campaign or make a pledge over the phone.