New Location For Wimauma Clinic Serving Low-Income Residents

WIMAUMA, FL — A health clinic, La Esperanza Clinic, that provides free health care to low-income residents had a blessing and ribbon cutting ceremony at its new upcoming Wimauma location Wednesday morning.

The clinic opened in 2013 at its temporary home, Our Lady of Guadalupe Mission. The clinic's permanent home, 16640 U.S. Highway 301 South, Wimauma, opens in August, a news release said. BayCare Health System and Catholic Charities, Diocese of St. Petersburg established the new location for the clinic.

“Establishing a permanent space for La Esperanza Clinic shows our unwavering commitment to serve the most vulnerable members of our communities,” Collen Walters, vice president of mission and ethics at BayCare, said. “The journey to find a site that was easily accessible has been a long but important one. Along with our Catholic Charities partners, Faith Community Nurses and the Allegany Franciscan Ministries, we never lost sight of the impact that a permanent home for the Clinic would have on those in need in Wimauma.”

In addition to BayCare’s Faith Community Nurses providing services at La Esperanza, doctors affiliated with nearby St. Joseph’s Hospital-South in Riverview provide services there. Southeast Hillsborough County residents who lack insurance form their employer and are struggling financially are able to get services at the new location, according to BayCare.

“Many doctors affiliated with our hospital volunteer and provide examinations and other health care services at La Esperanza,” Phil Minden, president of St. Joseph’s Hospital-South. “These doctors are compassionate, caring and have with an incredible sense of responsibility. We can’t thank them enough for what they do at La Esperanza. They are true representatives of our mission here at BayCare and St. Joseph’s Hospital-South.”

Since 2000, the free medical clinics have served more than 40,000 people and saved dozens of lives, its hospital staff said.

*La Esperanza translates to "The Hope" in English.

For more information, visit baycare.org or Diocese of St. Petersburg.