On a sweltering July morning, the joyous sound of more than 800 children filled the air as they descended on Mercy Care Chamblee for the annual Back-to-School Fair. Four years in a row, our youngest patients received brand new backpacks filled with fresh school supplies.

But it is more than just backpacks; Mercy Care’s staff sit down with families to schedule immunizations and physicals, arrange for meals and transportation.

However, some children need more to start the school year.

John Carlos was one child able to enroll in school with the help of Mercy Care’s staff. He could not walk and was ineligible for state-sponsored healthcare for another five years because he was here illegally. Having no diagnosis from his home country, our staff monitored his condition and secured John Carlos a free high quality wheelchair.

The reason for Mercy Care- is to bring healthcare to those who need it most but can afford it least.

Monique unexpectedly lost her mother at five years old. Unprepared to be a caregiver, Monique’s aunt had no idea where to sign her up for school or how to care for a child. As a patient of Mercy Care, Monique’s new family received the help they needed to care for and enroll Monique into school. More importantly, Monique saw a Mercy Care counselor to help her process the loss of her mom.

A backpack does not fix everything, but it is a starting place for families to seek the care they need no matter the circumstances. The generosity of our donors allows us to provide needed resources, beyond a backpack for children like John Carlos and Monique.