Local nonprofits describe rising demand and ask for continued county support

Lynn Adcox, director of operations at Caring and Sharing of South Walton, asked the board for $20,000 to support the organization’s financial assistance program that helps Walton County residents with past-due rent, utilities and other crisis needs. "Caring and Sharing of South Walton is requesting $20,000 to support our financial assistance program," Adcox said, and explained that the request represents about one month of the program and roughly 1.25% of the organization’s annual operating budget.

Dr. Hillary Glenn, nurse practitioner and co-founder of Point Washington Medical Clinic, told the board the clinic has been operating since April 2017 and is a no-fee primary care clinic that has delivered roughly $8.7 million in services across more than 23,000 patient encounters. "By the numbers since inception, we have provided over $8,700,000 worth of services on-site," Dr. Glenn said, adding that last year alone the clinic provided about $1.3 million in on-site services and that 83% of patients are Walton County residents. Both speakers framed county funding not as an entitlement but as a partnership that leverages volunteer hours, private donations and other grants to extend services countywide. Commissioners thanked both organizations and acknowledged their ranked positions on the nonprofit application lists; no final award decisions were made at the workshop.