DFW News App

Mercy Clinic of Fort Worth is located at 775 W. Bowie St. The nonprofit clinic was founded in 2011. (David Moreno | Fort Worth Report)
” data-medium-file=”https://fortworthreport.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/DSC09179-scaled.jpg?fit=300%2C200&ssl=1″ data-large-file=”https://fortworthreport.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/DSC09179-scaled.jpg?fit=780%2C520&ssl=1″ tabindex=”0″ role=”button”>For over a decade, Mercy Clinic has aimed to make health and spiritual care more accessible in south Fort Worth. Now, the organization is being nationally recognized for its work. NBCUniversal announced Aug. 20 that the clinic will receive more than $32,000 through the company’s 2024 Local Impact Grant, marking the first time the faith-based nonprofit is receiving the national award. Mercy Clinic offers free medical, dental and prescription services to uninsured adults in south Fort Worth, along with a women’s clinic on the first Saturday of each month. Clients live in ZIP codes 76110, 76115 and 76104, which reported the lowest life expectancy in the state in 2019. The volunteer-led organization relies on local health care providers to donate their time and skills to the clinic. Thanks to a recent partnership with Texas Christian University’s Burnett School of Medicine, medical students operate the clinic on Monday evenings. The clinic served about 1,300 patients in 2023 and experienced a 30% growth in need in 2024, said Executive Director Aly Layman. She expects the clinic’s patient population to grow another 10% before the year ends. Layman said the grant will help Mercy Clinic cover the increased expense of medications and supplies caused by a surge in clients. “Just because we have volunteers to do the work doesn’t mean we don’t still have expenses. So the more volunteers we have, the more patients we can care for. So it all kind of goes together,” Layman said. “The fact that we were one of eight organizations in DFW to receive (the grant) is just really an honor.” A volunteer dentist completes a dental procedure at Mercy Clinic of Fort Worth. The nonprofit clinic offers free health care to uninsured residents across the city. (Courtesy photo | Mercy Clinic of Fort Worth)Mercy Clinic is currently located at 775 W. Bowie St. and expects to build a new health center at Berry Street Theater’s previous location, 3033 Hemphill St. The nonprofit operates on an appointment basis. The clinic is open Monday, Tuesday and Thursday evenings and Wednesday afternoons. The clinic will expand its Tuesday services to both afternoons and evenings in September, Layman said. Mercy Clinic was one of four Fort Worth nonprofits to receive a grant from the program. Other recipients included EmpathyHQ, Literacy United and the Welman Project. Each year, the grant program recognizes nonprofits in NBC- and Telemundo-owned television station markets across the U.S. The funding aims to support organizations focused on “youth education and empowerment, next-generation storytellers and community engagement.” “Providing these grants is more than just financial support; it’s about investing in the future of our community,” said Tony Canales, NBC 5 and Telemundo 39 president and general manager. “By empowering local nonprofits, we’re helping to uplift and create opportunities for the next generation, ensuring that every young person and every community member has a chance to thrive.” Mercy Clinic was founded in 2011 by Dr. Rebekah Naylor, a retired Baptist medical missionary and distinguished professor at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Naylor spent over 35 years serving as a medical missionary in India before returning to Fort Worth in 2009. It was when she returned that she became concerned about how many people in her community didn’t have access to health care. She partnered with a group of volunteers from her home church, Travis Avenue Baptist Church, to start forming Mission Travis Mercy, now Mercy Clinic. The nonprofit officially opened its doors to patients in 2013, she said.“To see what has happened is indication to me that God has honored the work and has provided the necessary resources in people and money at strategic times,” Naylor said. “We’re just excited about the future.” Marissa Greene is a Report for America corps member, covering faith for the Fort Worth Report. Contact her at marissa.greene@fortworthreport.org or @marissaygreene. At the Fort Worth Report, news decisions are made independently of our board members and financial supporters. Read more about our editorial independence policy here.