Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, March 24, 1994                   TAG: 9403240279
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-8   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: By BECKY HEPLER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG                                LENGTH: Medium

FREE CLINIC DEPENDS ON ART AUCTION

The 12th annual event will be Saturday at the Blacksburg Holiday Inn. More than 100 artists have contributed to the area's longest-running art auction. Items for sale include paintings, stained glass, baskets, fiber art and photography.

The public is invited to the artists' reception at 6 p.m. and bidding begins at 7:30.

Using mostly volunteers, the Free Clinic delivers an estimated $1 million worth of services to more than 1,500 patient visits on a budget of $130,000. It provides medical care to people in Radford and Montgomery, Floyd, Pulaski and Giles counties who otherwise couldn't afford it.

Director Rebecca Noftsinger said this year's goal is to resume dental services. The clinic's new offices have the needed plumbing and new equipment bought with a grant, but it is taking some time to raise money to cover the supply costs, an expensive component of dental care.

"Health care is a national crisis," Noftsinger said. She points to her clients, many of whom have always lived in poverty, and a growing number of unemployed people - formerly middle class workers with good medical plans.

This crisis also can be seen in the fact that the number of free clinics in Virginia has doubled in the last three years to 26. Nationwide Virginia and California have the largest number of free clinics.

While much of the Free Clinic's budget comes from local United Way funds, the Art Auction supplies a good chunk of the operating expenses. Noftsinger said the clinic hopes to raise at least $15,000 in this year's event.

Because the success of the Art Auction is so critical to the success of the clinic, Noftsinger takes particular pains to make sure the event runs smoothly. This year she met with three local artists to get their feedback on past auctions and their ideas for making future auctions more successful and very positive for the artists. Carole Davis, Martha Dillard and Lesley Roberts Gregg think the exchange of ideas was a very positive development for both sides.

"This is a good cause that people believe in," Davis said. "The clinic volunteers have been very gracious in considering our needs as well."

One of the ideas to come out of the joint meeting was the artists' reception before the show. It is a way to honor the artists for their contributions. It also increases public interest in the art by allowing the public to meet the artists.

"We not only want to benefit the Free Clinic," Noftsinger noted. "We want to enhance the public's appreciation for our local artists and their work."

The artists also have volunteered to help in arranging the display of the art.