Friends of health
Since 1988, our 501(c)3 has provided assistance to clients and patients of agencies on the Mendocino Coast. We began with serving only hospice patients, but due to the generosity of the community, we have expanded our reach to include any who suffer acute or chronic illness. Our first priority is always those facing the end-of-life.
CURRENT BOARD: July 2025
Ann Conner, Treasurer of the Board, Gin Kremen, DDS, Vice President of the Board, Nancy Gardner-Gmeiner, Board Member, Mary Flannery Kraut, RN, Secretary/Historian of the Board, Ellen Campbell, LVN, Board Member, Carolyn Petersen, OTR/L, President of the Board.
We do this by ...
Responding to requests from local agencies serving those facing medical crises or disabilities.
We do not bill insurance, and trust our partners in determining their level of need. Our primary goal is to allow people to remain safely in their homes by providing items and needs not covered by insurance or personal funds. We do not discriminate in any way. Supporting hospice and home health patients is the highest priority of FoH.
The following agencies have requested assistance for their clients:
Adventist Health Mendocino Coast
Home Health and Hospice
Outpatient Rehabilitation
Primary Care
Mendocino Coast Clinics
Project Sanctuary
Mendocino County Social Services
Primary care physicians
Churches and other social agencies
We Support in a variety of ways, such as…
Durable Medical Equipment & Incontinence Supplies. Please contact the Hospice Thrift Store, 155 boatyard Drive, Fort Bragg, to see what is readily available.
Medical alert devices offer peace of mind to the elderly and their worried families.
Overnight Lodging and Gas Vouchers for out of town medical appointments.
Emergency Help with utilities to avoid shutoffs during a difficult, medical related, time.
Nutritional Supplements & Medication not covered by insurance.
These are just several examples! Please use our agency request form to Contact Us for other requests!
“Friends of Health is an invaluable community resource. Cancer Resource Centers of Mendocino County is deeply thankful for the opportunity to collaborate with this exceptional organization. The funds extended by Friends of Health create a profound impact, assisting our clients in meeting essential needs crucial for their cancer treatment.”
“Over the years working as a nurse at Mendocino Coast Clinics, there have been situations in which our patients require a little extra assistance accessing the things they need to care for themselves. During these times, I have always been able to rely on the Friends Of Health to come to my aid! Friends of Health has paid for short term supplies of needed medications, purchased bus passes, and helped with medical devices. The extra resources are particularly helpful for patients who do not have access to health insurance coverage and are experiencing a financial hardship. One of my patients who was losing vision, thus no longer able to work, needed eye drops but they were unaffordable. Thankfully, with help from Friends of Health, that patient was able to get the eye drops that were needed, and along with free eye surgery from the Lion’s Eye Foundation, now has recovered sight and is back at work doing great. Requesting help from Friends of Health couldn’t be an easier process either. I just complete an online application form and always receive a prompt response from their staff. Friends of Health is an integral part of our community’s safety net, for which I am grateful.”