OUR STORIES
Community Free Clinic: Caring for the Health of Cabarrus County’s Uninsured
By Avalin Inman
Walk into the Community Free Clinic of Cabarrus County, and you will quickly see what compassion in action looks like. Every day, the Clinic’s team of staff and volunteers provides free healthcare services to uninsured adults and children who live and work in Cabarrus County but lack access to affordable insurance.
For more than 30 years, the Community Free Clinic of Cabarrus County has served as a vital source of healthcare for uninsured, working-age adults across the county. Since its founding in 1994 by Dr. George Liles and Dr. David Lockhart, the Clinic has been a compassionate constant for those who fall into the coverage gap—residents who earn too much to qualify for Medicaid but not enough to afford private insurance.
Today, the Clinic continues to meet this critical need, offering free primary and preventive care, chronic disease management, behavioral health services, dental screenings, and more to uninsured residents of Cabarrus County. Recently, the Clinic expanded its services to also care for uninsured children, ensuring that more families have access to the healthcare they need to live healthier, more stable lives.
“We get people healthy and keep people healthy.”
That simple, powerful statement sums up the mission of Executive Director Penny Aronson, who joined the Clinic in March 2023 and became Executive Director in August 2025.
“One of the things I love most about Cabarrus County is the true collaboration,” says Aronson. “In other places I’ve lived, it was a fight for the dollar. Here, if you ask for help or collaboration, the answer is always yes. It’s not just one organization leading the way—it’s a community mission.”
That spirit of collaboration extends to how the Clinic works with hospitals, nonprofits, and volunteers to serve patients with dignity and compassion. “We listen, we act, and we treat each patient as a person, not a number,” she says. “Many of our patients are so grateful and want to give back because of how much the Clinic has helped them.”
Comprehensive Services for Cabarrus County Residents
Coming to the Community Free Clinic is just like visiting any primary care provider—but for uninsured patients, every service is free. The Clinic provides care for residents of Cabarrus County who have a household income below 300% of the Federal Poverty Level, and are not eligible for VA benefits, Medicaid or Medicare.
Services include:
Testing and Screenings
Comprehensive testing and screening for good health.
Counseling and Support
Pharmaceutical counseling, diabetes management, behavioral health, health coaching, nutrition, and assistance with social determinants of health.
Dental Care
Through a partnership with a mobile dental unit, patients can receive x-rays, cleanings, and treatment from volunteer dentists. Dental screenings are also available at the night clinic. At the Clinic, about 40% of patients have never been to the dentist, and the chief complaint is removing a tooth. With dental care, patients are able to better understand oral care and hygiene.
Lifestyle Medicine
Lifestyle Medicine focuses on addressing the root causes of chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, and obesity through six key areas: healthy eating, physical activity, stress management, healthy relationships, sleep, and tobacco cessation. What began as a program to manage chronic conditions has evolved into a broader effort to help the community understand what it truly means to be healthy—and how to achieve it. With so much information available, it can be difficult to know what advice to follow. That’s why the Clinic invites healthcare and research professionals to share evidence-based guidance on topics such as sleep and nutrition, helping patients and community members apply these lessons in their everyday lives.
The Clinic also uses Lifestyle Medicine to connect people—patients, donors, and community members—through shared learning experiences and events focused on healthy living.
A key part of this effort is the Clinic’s Food Pharmacy, a partnership with Cooperative Christian Ministries, Second Harvest, Cabarrus Health Alliance, and local grocery partners. The Food Pharmacy provides nutritious food boxes, cooking classes, and health education to help patients make informed food choices. Most patients share that they don’t have regular access to healthy food, which can worsen illnesses like diabetes. Through the Food Pharmacy, the Clinic is changing the way it addresses hunger—helping patients not only access food, but understand how nutrition directly impacts their health.
Partner Medical Services
Through partnerships with Atrium Health, Novant Health, Cabarrus Health Alliance and nonprofit partners like CheckIt4Andretti, the Community Free Clinic offers free cancer screenings and specialty care. The Breast and Cervical Cancer Control Program brings a mobile mammography bus to the Clinic for qualifying patients, and the Lung Bus visits the Clinic quarterly. The Community Free Clinic also offers cancer screenings for prostate, colon, and lung cancers with those partners. If those patients learn they have cancer, they can get parts of that care for free, and the rest for a reduced cost.
Measurable Impact
In the past fiscal year alone, the Community Free Clinic helped 64% of diabetic patients improve their A1C and over 70% reduce hypertension. These outcomes are more than numbers—they represent Cabarrus County residents who can now work, volunteer, and care for their families with renewed health and stability.
“When people don’t have access to healthcare, it affects every part of their lives,” says Aronson. “Many avoid seeing a doctor because they simply can’t afford it—but that only allows their health issues to worsen until an emergency room visit becomes their only option. The Community Free Clinic gives them the opportunity to receive care early, before their health concerns become a crisis, while also helping them stay healthy and active in their daily lives through ongoing treatment and preventative care.”
Healing Beyond the Exam Room
For Aronson and her team, the Clinic’s work is about far more than treating symptoms, it’s about addressing the whole person.
“The patient services team at the Clinic works closely with nonprofit partners in the county to provide resources and referrals for help, whether that’s food, job placement, or emergent needs like domestic violence and sex trafficking,” says Aronson. “This collaboration ensures that physical, mental, and social needs are not treated in isolation, but as interconnected parts of a person’s overall well-being.”
The Clinic’s success stories illustrate that truth. One patient, a man living with diabetes, was able to get his blood sugar under control with the Clinic’s help, allowing him to qualify for his CDL and return to work. Another, a woman named Gladys, had suffered through complications from breast cancer surgery and was turned away elsewhere. The Community Free Clinic not only provided her with mastectomy bras but connected her to the care she needed to finally live pain-free.
“She cried with gratitude,” recalls Aronson. “Moments like that remind us why we do what we do. Everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and compassion.”
Meeting Growing Needs in a Growing Community
With Cabarrus County’s rapid growth and recent federal budget changes threatening healthcare access, the need for free services is rising sharply. The Clinic expects to see even more patients in the coming year, particularly as some residents lose Medicaid coverage or struggle with the rising costs of private insurance.
“Our biggest need right now is financial support,” Aronson says. “We don’t want to turn anyone away. Every donation helps us provide care for another neighbor in need.”
She also hopes to increase awareness among small business owners and entrepreneurs, many of whom are uninsured themselves or employ part-time workers who can’t afford marketplace insurance.
“We can be a partner for local employers,” she explains. “If your team members can’t afford coverage, we can be their medical home so they stay healthy, don’t miss work, and continue contributing to our community.”
A Healthier Future for Cabarrus County
As Cabarrus County continues to grow, Aronson is optimistic. “We’re building stronger partnerships with medical providers like Atrium and Novant, which means more opportunities for specialty care. It’s amazing to see how our healthcare community is coming together to make sure everyone can access care.”
What makes Cabarrus County great, she says, is simple: “Caring, compassionate people. When people love their neighbor—really love their neighbor—it shows, and it really shows here.”
To support the Community Free Clinic’s work and help keep Cabarrus County’s uninsured population healthy, visit: https://communityfreeclinic.org/how-to-give
For information about services or enrollment, visit: https://communityfreeclinic.org/enrollment
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