Local DC heroes promote good health with good deeds during COVID, flood relief

Another installment on how chiropractors and associations promoting good health are making a difference during COVID-19 and other crises

Members of the Michigan Association of Chiropractors (MAC) provided donated good health in the form of chiropractic relief to front-line workers and flood victims from a dam break in Central Michigan for three days of the week in June, planned through the end of the crisis.

“MAC-member doctors are stepping up to help following the devastating flooding by donating their time and expertise to provide needed services to front-line workers and local citizens,” Kristine Dowell, MAC executive director, told Mid-Michigan Now. “Chiropractors from across the state are committed to helping during this time of crisis.”

Donated chiropractic relief assisted first responders and workers on the ground doing cleanup, electrical work, water heater installs and other services. The donated chiropractic relief was part of the first annual ChiroCares National Giving Back Day, a philanthropic initiative spearheaded by the MAC and national chiropractic organizational partners.

The MAC also encouraged its doctors and their patients to donate virtually to their local food banks through Feeding America, the nation’s largest domestic hunger-relief organization, and make donations to the Midland Area Foundation or the Red Cross.

“The local community has just been blown away with the generosity from all the ChiroCares givers throughout the state,” Dowell said.

DC deems all local businesses, institutions ‘essential’

Chiropractic was deemed an “essential service” by the U.S. government at the onset of COVID-19, but when Dustin Rounds, DC, saw other businesses closing, he started brainstorming ways to help his local community in Waukon County, Iowa.

“I started thinking about how it would be if my own business was shut down. I don’t sleep well anyway, because I worry. And when I worry, I brainstorm,” said Rounds, speaking to The Standard.

He first donated gift certificates to help various restaurants, then gift certificates for hair salons and other businesses. He supported a church community meal that raised $1,200, and donations of meals to health care workers.

“People started stopping into our office and donating money to what we were doing,” he said. “That’s kind of how this whole thing got going. People started donating money and it just kept coming.”

His efforts also fed staff at local schools through donations and helped organize a community summer prom fundraiser for graduating seniors that raised almost $5,000.

“[COVID-19 and business closures] has made me realize we really take our freedoms for granted,” he said.

Maryland, Virginia DCs raise money for food banks

Chiropractic offices across Virginia and Maryland joined together to raise thou-sands of dollars to help local food banks. According to a press release the DCs raised more than $4,100 through a virtual food drive.

Offices participating were the chiropractic office of Joe A. Cantu, DC, in Charlottesville, Family Chiropractic of Fairfax in Fairfax, Green Run Chiropractic in Virginia Beach, In Good Hands Chiropractic in Virginia Beach, Kaizo-Health in Fort Washington, Kline Chiropractic and Wellness in Woodbridge, Mathes Family Chiropractic in Mechanicsville, Painfree Chiropractic and Rehab, Alexandria, Perron Chiropractic in Reston, Quality Chiropractic in Falls Church, South Hill Wellness Center in South Hill, and the Healing Center in Danville.

Perron Chiropractic was the driving force of the food drive, raising approximately 75% of the total.

The drive was organized by the Unified Virginia Chiropractic Association as part of a National ChiroCares Giving Back initiative between May 19-26.

Arizona DC promotes good health to COVID-19 front-liners, organizations

Ahwatukee, Ariz., chiropractor Cameron Call made giving back part of his business model locally during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Horizon Chiropractic Center owner organized a raffle to raise money for a $3,300 therapeutic chair for a handicapped 5-month-old, sponsored “Ladies Night Out” events for toy donations for foster kids, and inspired “Call to Launch,” a community endeavor for good health “to benefit ER and hospital staff, emergency responders, grocery store/warehouse employees, postal delivery drivers and government essential emergency personnel.”

Local health care workers received four free visits through June.

“Dealing with a pandemic is rough,” Call told the Ahwatukee Foothills News. “Nothing like this has ever happened in our lifetime and no matter how much preparedness training we have had, this can be overwhelming … We will help the helpers. We will do everything necessary to get them back on track as quickly as possible.”

Tampa-area free chiropractic care for first responders

Richard Tantillo, DC, with Alexander Spine Center offered free chiropractic care to all Pinellas County (Tampa, Fla., area) first responders in May-June.

“It’s difficult enough to do their job and then complement that with having some issue where it makes the job difficult because of their pain,” said Tantillo, speaking to the local ABC TV affiliate on maintaining good health among first responders. “Each one of those first responders is out on that front line and doing what they are supposed to be doing, and we just make sure we keep them going.”

— CHIROPRACTIC ECONOMICS STAFF