Earlier this year, we introduced you to Sandy Colasacco and told you how she opened a new non-profit clinic called the Island Health and Wellness Center. We love Sandy so much and truly believe in her, her clinic and its mission. Because of that, we held a raffle for the clinic and, with the help of all of you, we were able to raise more than $30,000 to help support it. It was amazing.
Then Hurricane Irma struck. Sadly, the clinic did not fare well. It sustained major water damage and then mold, forcing Sandy to closed its doors permanently. But that didn’t mean that Sandy stopped working. Rather than seeing patients in a traditional manner, she began helping others wherever she could – in grocery stores, at Chelsea Drug Store, at the Westin and other various locations around the island.
Well today we have extremely good news to share with all of you – Sandy has found a great new location for the clinic! And it’s just across the street!
Beginning on November 20th (or perhaps sooner if she can), Sandy will resume seeing patients at the Island Health and Wellness Center. The new center will be located at the former Drift Away space just above St. John Market. The cost will remain the same – just $50 per visit – but no one will be turned away due to the inability to pay.
So the good news is that a much-needed service is about to resume on island. The bad news of that it’s going to cost a ton of money. Between securing the new space, renovation work, the purchasing new equipment and supplies and other necessary steps to get the space patient ready, Sandy estimates that it will cost the nonprofit more than $33,000. And that’s simply to get the door open. So yet again, we are asking for your help.
If you have the ability to donate to the Island Health and Wellness Center, please do. All donations are tax-deductible as the center is a registered 501(c)3 organization. You can donate directly to the center by clicking this link. It will bring you to the center’s secure donation page.
The Island Health and Wellness Center has received from some private donors and other charitable organizations; however more help is needed. So if you can even donate a dollar, please do. Every little bit helps.
I am happy to donate to help get Dr Sandy and her amazing clinic up and running again. I was on island in July and got a throat infection and visited the clinic, I could not have been treated better. I remember thinking what an amazing gift the clinic was to St John, so I have been following what was happening with the clinic and Dr Sandy since. I am so thankful that she has found a new location and hopefully will have the doors open soon.
I just wanted to say thank you for the updates you have provided. Every morning I look forward to your posts. I, along with my husband and children have been vacationing on St. John for 22 years and it has become a second home to us. We feel so much for the island and all of the wonderful people we have met over the years. We keep you in our hearts as you heal from this awful devastation…We see the signs of new growth on island and the strength of spirit in the people who live there. It is inspiring!
I was wondering if anyone knows how the Hillcrest Guest House is doing? We stayed there a few years ago when we visited St. John.
I’m so glad for this clinic. My wife and I was on vacation in St. John we went here after her being miserable for 5 days come to find out she had a UTI. After the antibiotics she proscribed we were enjoy last of are vacation.