Mission Statement
The John C. Lincoln Health Network exists because our founders could not be idle when they saw the dignity and potential of others threatened by illness or social circumstance. They worked to improve conditions. So must we today.
True to the legacy we've proudly inherited, our mission is to assist each person entrusted to our care to enjoy the fullest gift of health possible, and to work with others to build a community where a helping hand is available to our most vulnerable members. We do this because we believe in the value of each person we are honored to serve and because we believe helping people is an enriching experience.
Description
In the early 1920s, Arizona was a new frontier, a booming land of promise not only for the healthy but also for the sick. The Arizona sun and dry desert climate drew those suffering from tuberculosis, rheumatism, asthma, and a variety of afflictions. These health-seekers traveled many miles from their homes, sometimes spending every dollar they had to reach the West. After arriving, they lived in health camps composed of tents and unpainted shacks with dirt floors.
In 1931 John C. Lincoln and his wife Helen moved to the area. She had been diagnosed with tuberculosis and given two years to live. The Lincolns along with other generous volunteers gave of their time and money to help the people in the camps. Through their efforts, Desert Mission grew and was incorporated in 1935.
It was from these humble beginnings of desert health camps that devoted, generous individuals formed the Desert Mission and eventually expanded to the John C. Lincoln Health Network of today. That tradition of caring continues, today, as strong and as prevalent as it was more than 70 years ago.
As part of the Network, Desert Mission is organized for the purpose of identifying, responding to and contributing to the social and economic well being of the Sunnyslope and North Phoenix area. It intends to provide charitable, educational, and health-related services for the young, the elderly and the underprivileged of all ages. Today Desert Mission is comprised of the Desert Mission Food Bank, Children's Dental Clinic, Adult Day Health Care, Lincoln Learning Center, Marley House Family Resource Center, Community Health Center, and Neighborhood Renewal.
Goal of Desert Mission Programs
The goal of our Desert Mission programs is to meet the basic needs of our most vulnerable community members and help them reach their full potential for health and self-sufficiency.
