Sometimes, it really is who you know.
As medical director of CrossOver Healthcare Ministry, Mike Murchie, M.D., helps people access essential medical care that would otherwise be out of reach, everything from basic checkups to obstetrics, to vision and dental care. With two clinics in the Richmond region – one on Cowardin Avenue on the South Side and one on Quioccasin Road in the western end of Henrico County – CrossOver treated nearly 7,000 unique individuals in fiscal year 2019.
Murchie also happens to live in the same neighborhood as Rick Holtz, president of H. J. Holtz & Son. Knowing that the company often tackles commercial painting projects, he approached his neighbor with a favor request.
“The exterior of our downtown clinic needed to be painted,” Murchie says. “The dignity and grace of the services provided inside didn’t match the exterior. I said to Rick, ‘Hey, this might be a big ask,’ but he agreed without hesitation.
“I was floored and highly appreciative,” Murchie adds. “They donated not only labor, but paint and supplies. It’s been incredible.”
Megan Mann, CrossOver’s director of resource development and communications, says H. J. Holtz & Son coordinated with James Herbert, owner of Envirowash, which donated power-washing of the clinic’s exterior. Then came conversations with Jack Long, regional sales manager for Sherwin-Williams, who contributed the paint, free of charge. Group conversations over the appropriate hue included a CrossOver mental health counselor for a color that would “pop” without being garish. The choice: Sherwin-Williams Bracing Blue, a modern blue-gray shade that stands out among neighboring buildings.
“With COVID, there’s an added stress to everyone,” Mann says. “Not all our volunteers have been able to return [to the clinic], so our paid staff have been strapped. This is not only beneficial for our patients, but really a morale booster for the staff.”
As a final touch: H. J. Holz & Son decorative artists painted the CrossOver logo on the side of the building, providing a visual point of interest. “Rick suggested the logo,” Mann says. “We didn’t even know that was an option. That was an extra layer of excitement.”
In addition to lifting spirits, the fresh paint serves a practical purpose: attracting attention.
“I say all the time that we’re the best-kept secret in Richmond,” Mann says. “We don’t want to be that. We want to be found by our clients and providers and volunteers. This new color is going to make it so much easier for people to find us.”
Murchie says the need for CrossOver’s services has increased during the pandemic, even as offering care safely became more challenging. “The people we serve are among the lowest-income people in our community,” he says. “They’re hard-working and [hold] a lot of frontline jobs – landscaping, cashiering, cleaning – where teleworking isn’t an option. And they still need routine medical care, as well as care for chronic issues like high blood pressure and diabetes. We were very committed to staying open [during the pandemic] and adapt our model so we can continue to provide high-quality care.”
Mann says as CrossOver looks toward its 30th anniversary next year, she is thankful for the contributions of H. J. Holtz & Son. “They’re a big part of making the clinic even better than it already is.”
