Kick Ash
The New McKenzie River Clinic
A Community Built & Managed Non-Profit 501c3
The Vision. The Plan.
The New Clinic Building in Blue River is Underway!
On Thursday, October 12, 2023, at 1:00 PM, the official ground-breaking for the new health clinic in Blue River marks a new chapter in our community.
The location:
51730 Dexter St., Blue River, OR 97413
The site old clinic burned in the Holiday Farm Fire in 2020, when all of Blue River burned.
“This is ground-breaking in more ways than one,” remarked Val Rapp, president of McKenzie Valley Wellness, at the event. “Our new clinic is possible only because of the partnerships we’ve been able to build.” State and county elected officials worked to get a $1.8 million grant for the clinic, under the Fire Relief Act. Local nonprofits such as Locals Helping Locals, McKenzie Long-Term Recovery Group, and Cascade Relief Team worked to help people and businesses rebuild.
“We’re going ahead with our rebuild despite the recent Lookout Fire that forced some of us to evacuate again,” Rapp continued. “We’re building a fire-resilient clinic and adapting to live with fire.”
“We especially love partnering with Orchid Health because we share the same vision, to have an inclusive clinic that serves the entire community,” Rapp continued.
As Orion Falvey, Executive Director and Co-Founder of Orchid Health, aptly expressed,
“We look forward to our continued partnership with McKenzie Valley Wellness and returning to the original McKenzie River clinic spot. This partnership signifies our shared dedication to uplifting community health and wellness, and we are excited to embark on this journey together.”
The new clinic will serve as a cornerstone of comprehensive care for the entire valley, delivering essential healthcare services to every member of the community. “We are proud to extend this commitment to the valley’s students, who can access care at Orchid Health at no cost,” said clinic manager Missy Albrich.
“Our Community Health Worker will also play a pivotal role in hosting a monthly food pantry, and connecting with other organizations.”
East Lane County Commissioner Heather Buch was the keynote speaker at the event. Several other speakers gave brief remarks, followed by a ceremonial ground-breaking. The event was well attended by community members, including people from other local organizations working to rebuild our community.