The work done by Mabel Clare lives on through the reopening of Mabel’s Clinic in Nuevo Progreso, Mexico. They will be having a fundraiser later this month to raise funds to support the clinic’s operations.
Back in 1967, Mabel Clare began trying to help the people of Mexico after the disastrous Hurricane Beulah. Mabel was in the Valley with her sister for rehabilitation for an injury. After that hurricane, many residents were left homeless, and many children were orphaned. Mabel worked to find homes for those children.
After seeing such devastation, Mabel and her sister first started the clinic, then built a school (Mexican Children’s Refuge) and provided clothing and food for those in the area. She, along with residents at Canyon Lake RV Resort, even took on building homes for the community. By 1992, both Mabel’s Clinic and Mabel’s Building Mission were fully established and helping residents in the community.
Today, Mabel’s Building Mission is headed by residents at Canyon Lake RV Resort, and Mabel’s Clinic is supported mainly by residents at Leisure World Resort in Weslaco.
They are excited to share that Mabel’s Free Clinic (Consultorios Medicos Gratuitos Mabel’s AC) is open again. The clinic was closed from 2020-2023 by the pandemic. Dan Fleischmann, Coordinator of Volunteer Services and Public Relations for Mabel’s Clinic, said it was with the help of God and Doctor Eva Lilia Garcia Cantu that they reopened in January 2024.
The clinic is currently open Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, from 9 a.m. to noon. The volunteer staff consists of Doctor Tracy Moss Fleischmann, Licienciada Reyna Resendez G. Campos (psychologist), and Reverend Daniel Fleischmann, Sr. (receptionist, eyeglasses, prayer and spiritual counseling).
Dan invites others to become an important part of keeping Mabel’s dream alive by volunteering at the clinic or sponsoring a student at the Mexican Children’s Refuge.
Another way you can help out is to attend the fundraiser they will be having at Leisure World. The fundraiser is being held to financially keep the clinic free and open to the residents of Nuevo Progreso. The clinic provides medical and eye care for those who can’t afford it. They are never charged for any of the services they receive.
Through the very generous people in the Valley, they make enough funds for the next year. Monetary donations also help provide food, clothing and other health needs that other donations have not met.
They also use the funds for the Mexican Children’s Refuge where they provide about 170 scholarships to keep the kids in school beyond sixth grade. The education costs are about $170 per year for middle school and $310 per year for high school.
The fundraiser event will take place on Sunday, January 26, from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The event is open to the public. Rick McEwen will be providing entertainment. If you want more information, or to find out other ways you can help, call Oscar Jones at (763) 688-5779. You can also donate directly to their Texas non-profit Mabel’s Free Clinic Association through Oscar.
To see what they do, follow them on Facebook – Consultorios Medicos Mabels de Mexico, or visit their website at www.mabelsclinic.org. For questions, you can email mabelsclinic24@gmail.com or call (956) 332-0490.
