Mission Arlington?

[Neurocentric]

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I'm looking for any help, but if you live in the DFW area, maybe you can help even more.

I'd love to volunteer at a free clinic and start my exposure there. However, I don't have a car, and since I live in the largest city in the country without public transportation (so I've heard), the only free clinic in walking distance from my university is the Mission Arlington Health Clinic.

Now, I have no problem working with them. They are doing a great cause, however, since I'm Agnostic, I'm afraid that I'll be harped on to join the "word of the Lord" or worse, they'll not let me do anything with them since I'm not Christian (I've heard places can be like this). Realistically, this is the only option I have right now.

I'm just wondering what to do. Honestly, I'd love to do something to help out, but I'm just holding back because of the whole religion thing. I'm not sure how much emphasis they put on that. It would make me feel uncomfortable.

Anyone know more about them, or just have advice?

 

[trypanosomiasis]

Lots of free clinics in TX, call to see which ones are operable and which have needs for volunteers:
http://www.needymeds.org/free_clinics.taf?_function=list&state=tx

Mission Clinic looks to be the only one in Arlington, so you'll have to figure that one out if you want to stay in Arlington. And Arlington has transit, but not some of its own. It's hooked up into the Ft. Worth system, mainly, though I wouldn't be surprised to see DART or The T end up at Cowboys Stadium or The Ballpark eventually.

If you can find a way to get to DFW airport, you can take the TRE into Ft. Worth or Dallas. For Dallas, then the DART rail orange line, followed by rail/bus system into any of the Dallas-area clinics. For Ft. Worth, the TRE goes directly into downtown.

Otherwise, if you can get to the I-30 and Lamar or I-20 and Park Springs "Park & Ride," you can take Ft. Worth's smaller transportation system, "The T," into Ft. Worth to go to their clinics.

 

[Neurocentric]

Lots of free clinics in TX, call to see which ones are operable and which have needs for volunteers:
http://www.needymeds.org/free_clinics.taf?_function=list&state=tx

Mission Clinic looks to be the only one in Arlington, so you'll have to figure that one out if you want to stay in Arlington. And Arlington has transit, but not some of its own. It's hooked up into the Ft. Worth system, mainly, though I wouldn't be surprised to see DART or The T end up at Cowboys Stadium or The Ballpark eventually.

If you can find a way to get to DFW airport, you can take the TRE into Ft. Worth or Dallas. For Dallas, then the DART rail orange line, followed by rail/bus system into any of the Dallas-area clinics. For Ft. Worth, the TRE goes directly into downtown.

Otherwise, if you can get to the I-30 and Lamar or I-20 and Park Springs "Park & Ride," you can take Ft. Worth's smaller transportation system, "The T," into Ft. Worth to go to their clinics.

Realistically, Mission Arlington is the only thing that would work with my schedule and my boyfriend's, who has the car all the time for work, and I don't have my license (long story). I'm just wondering if the religion barrier would be a problem; I don't have any issue working with them, but I'm wondering if they'll have an issue working with me, or I'll have to pretend to be overly Christian, which I'm not comfortable with.

If the T or the DART came to the Stadium, that would be nice. I'm from NYC, so I'm used to buses EVERYWHERE.

 

[trypanosomiasis]

Looking at their website, they seem pretty religious.... Plus there is no information online about healthcare-related volunteer opportunities, other than if you're already a doctor, dentist, counselor or nurse (i.e. have professional training). You should call and check on that first, then worry about the religion issue.

http://www.missionarlington.org/joinin/healthprofessionals/

And what about volunteering at MCA or Arlington Memorial? Have your boyfriend drop you off before work and pick you up later (lunch hour?)

 

[WTEngel]

It sounds like it does not matter whether they are overly religious or not. If this is your only option, which you are saying it is, then you will either make it work or you won't.

Not trying to be harsh or anything, you just seem to be backed into a corner. Like I said above, if it is your only option, then it is your only option.

I know Mission Arlington does have its religious overtones, however when I volunteered there during high school (about 10 years ago) they did not seem too pushy about it.

If anyone gets too pushy, just say you are very personal about your religion and prefer not to discuss it.

Not having a car/license, and having limited options sometimes forces us into situations that we would rather not be in.

 

[Neurocentric]

Looking at their website, they seem pretty religious.... Plus there is no information online about healthcare-related volunteer opportunities, other than if you're already a doctor, dentist, counselor or nurse (i.e. have professional training). You should call and check on that first, then worry about the religion issue.

http://www.missionarlington.org/joinin/healthprofessionals/

And what about volunteering at MCA or Arlington Memorial? Have your boyfriend drop you off before work and pick you up later (lunch hour?)

I'd love to volunteer at Arlington Memorial too, and I will definitely at some point, but I've also heard for extra clinical experience, it's good to try free clinics since they might let you do things since they don't have the word "sue" burned into the building walls. And yeah, the "volunteer" part is not very descriptive, but I would hope they would need others to help as well. You make a good point.

It sounds like it does not matter whether they are overly religious or not. If this is your only option, which you are saying it is, then you will either make it work or you won't.

Not trying to be harsh or anything, you just seem to be backed into a corner. Like I said above, if it is your only option, then it is your only option.

I know Mission Arlington does have its religious overtones, however when I volunteered there during high school (about 10 years ago) they did not seem too pushy about it.

If anyone gets too pushy, just say you are very personal about your religion and prefer not to discuss it.

Not having a car/license, and having limited options sometimes forces us into situations that we would rather not be in.

I definitely have no problem working there, even with my religious beliefs, I just wouldn't want them to push me away because of it.

 

[Neurocentric]

Well, I went ahead and called them, and they are looking for volunteers that aren't in a professional career, so since I have to be on campus tomorrow for something with my job, I'm gonna take a walk over there afterwards and see what I can do and if it feels right for me.

 

[DrTroll]

I've heard about ppl recommending mission Arlington to pre-meds in class, he said they let you do a lot of stuff that other place don't let you.

 

[roguesong]

I've volunteered there before. I never felt they tried to push the religion on me. I just liked that they were really nice. Volunteering there was really easy, there's no commitment or extensive training/orientation involved. You just sign up and do whatever hours you want to do, and come in and leave whenever you want.

 

[Shy Assassin]

Ditto to what the previous poster said. No one asks about your religious beliefs.

You won't get much clinical experience though. I usually just sorted medication the couple of times I volunteered there.

 

[Neurocentric]

I've volunteered there before. I never felt they tried to push the religion on me. I just liked that they were really nice. Volunteering there was really easy, there's no commitment or extensive training/orientation involved. You just sign up and do whatever hours you want to do, and come in and leave whenever you want.

That's good to hear, and works awesome for me right now since my class schedule is really difficult, and I have only a few hours a week to spare as of right now.

Ditto to what the previous poster said. No one asks about your religious beliefs.

You won't get much clinical experience though. I usually just sorted medication the couple of times I volunteered there.

Eh, we'll see what happens. If I don't get clinical experience, I'll just put it down as non-clinical volunteering. I'm still doing this because I want to help in some way.