Upper Valley Free Clinic

A BRIEF HISTORY...

The concept for a free health clinic in Leavenworth grew out of a conversation between a group of community members from Faith Lutheran Church in 2000. The Church had some extra money and was looking for the best way to use it. Karen Strom, a member of that group, read an article in a Sunday paper about how to start a clinic and, having just retired as a computer programmer, volunteered to organize it.

Karen contacted Doug Williams, administrator of Cascade Medical Center, who offered space for the clinic. A committee was formed to organize the Free Clinic, and some of the original members are still on it: John Schramm, Laurie Peek, Dr. Karl Kranz, and Stuart Emig. In July of 2001, the Free Clinic began.

Karen continued to coordinate the running of the Clinic until handing over that responsibility to Theresa D-Litzenberger in 2007, and currently volunteers as an interpreter. Everyone who helped start the clinic believes that it would never have happened without the guidance and persistence of Karen.