It’s the time of year for giving thanks, and for over 400 local and area citizens, they are thankful for good health thanks to the mission of The Mercy Ministries and The Mercy Clinic.

Uninsured and underinsured individuals are the recipients of good healthcare because of the facility, but to provide that care, it takes funding. Now the organization is  the sole recipient of the funds raised through the Guy Branch Memorial Golf Tournament held earlier this month. Guy Branch of Toombs County passed away in 2016, but his son Tommy now oversees the fundraising sporting event.

“We’re donated a portion of the funds to Mercy Clinic since 2019,” Tommy said, “but we’ve decided that from now on, the golf tournament proceeds would only be given to Mercy in perpetuity. We just want to give them a check and they can use the funds in any way they need them.”

The annual golf tournament is held under the guidance of the L. Guyton Branch Foundation, Inc., which is a 501(c)(3) entity with a board of eight sitting members.

The Mercy Ministries Executive Director Clint Hutcheson said, “We are grateful to Tommy and the foundation. We have over 470 patients who depend on us for their healthcare, and it’s good to see a merchant excited about giving back to their community like this. We are very appreciative of the donation and these funds will go a long way in meeting the physical and spiritual needs of those we serve.”