September 13th, 2026
Opening the door to care and hope
For someone without health insurance, a minor health problem can quickly become a major worry.
A sore throat. A prescription that has run out. A health concern that needs attention but comes with a cost that feels impossible to manage.
For people in Chippewa County without another health care option, the Open Door Clinic offers more than a free medical visit. It offers a place to turn.
The nonprofit clinic provides basic health care and connects people with community resources they may not know are available. Qualified patients can receive care at no cost, along with medications ordered by clinic providers. The clinic also helps patients apply for prescription assistance programs and connects them with other health and community services when their needs extend beyond what the clinic can provide.
That connection is at the heart of the clinic’s work.
"A patient may come through the door because they need medical attention, but the underlying challenge may be much bigger," said Clinic Coordinator Kim Renaud. "They might need help affording medication. They may need mental health care, dental care or physical therapy. They may need help understanding what resources are available to them, and we're here to help."
The care extends beyond the exam room. Volunteers and community partners help provide medical services, medications, lab testing, counseling and other support. The clinic can also refer patients to community resources for dental care, basic needs and other services.
The result is a safety net built by the community, for the community.
The Open Door Clinic began taking patients in 2006 after Dr. Tom Chisholm and a group of community members worked to create a free clinic in Chippewa Falls. First Presbyterian Church provided space, and community members from a wide range of professions came together to build the organization.
Two decades later, that same spirit continues.
“From the very beginning, this clinic has been about neighbors helping neighbors,” Renaud said. “Every patient who walks through our doors is treated with dignity, compassion, and the belief that everyone deserves access to care.”
The Open Door Clinic is not designed to replace the health care system. It fills a gap for people who have nowhere else to go.
For volunteers at the Open Door Clinic, helping neighbors starts with simply opening the door.