Every Step Matters: The DEAC Foot and Ankle Clinic
Every Step Matters: The DEAC Foot and Ankle Clinic
April is National Volunteer Awareness Month, and we want you to meet some of the volunteers making a real difference for our neighbors, one step at a time.
The average neighbor experiencing unsheltered homelessness walks roughly 10 miles a day. Think about that for a moment. Ten miles to get to an appointment, find a meal, reach a safe place to rest, and do it all again tomorrow. That kind of wear on a person’s feet can lead to serious pain, infection, and long-term health problems.
That is where the DEAC Foot and Ankle Clinic comes in.
Staffed by volunteers from the Wake Forest University School of Medicine, the clinic provides foot care, podiatry services, new footwear, and socks for our unsheltered neighbors. What started small has grown into something remarkable. Dr. Ashleigh Medda, one of the clinic’s founding members, remembers those early days when our team would head out in the van just to find neighbors who might be interested in having their feet checked.
“Now we have a long wait list of people who want to come see us,” Dr. Medda shared. “I’m just so thankful that the word is out and that we’re able to help our community.”
Since moving into our expanded facility at the Community First Center on North Broad St in downtown Winston-Salem, the clinic has grown from serving about 10 neighbors per clinic day to more than 30. The team has also been able to offer additional resources, including food provided through a campus kitchen partnership and other essential supplies.
None of this happens without volunteers.
Our medical volunteers bring their expertise, their time, and their care. And our regular CwD volunteers show up to handle the details that make each clinic day run smoothly. They prepare breakfast bags, greet every neighbor who walks through the door, and make sure each person feels seen, welcomed, and respected.
This April, we are grateful for every volunteer who makes the DEAC Foot and Ankle Clinic possible. You are helping our neighbors take their next step, in every sense of the word.
Want to get involved? Email volunteers@citywithdwellings.org to learn about upcoming clinic dates and how you can help.
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More about the DEAC (Delivering Equal Access to Care) Clinic
The DEAC Clinic also provides telehealth appointments on a limited basis to serve those who are unable to come to the clinic in person. Current DEAC patients interested in a telehealth visit may call 336-716-3322
Please leave a voicemail with your inquiry and a number where we can best reach you. We will respond as soon as we are able. This number should not be used for urgent medical needs. For a medical emergency, please call 911.
DEAC is a student-run, free medical clinic that provides high-quality care to patients in communities in and around Winston-Salem. DEAC is fully accredited by the North Carolina Association of Free and Charitable Clinics and maintains 501(c)3 status.
