Earlier this month we were contacted by a reporter from the O magazine looking for information on innovative Acupuncturists volunteering their time and helping at-risk people that would otherwise not have access to our care. We reached out to our members and to Acupuncturists on Facebook, and the response was overwhelming! So many of you are contributing countless hours and your time/treasure/and talents toward helping others. I think that is one of the aspects of our profession that is so unique and amazing--our compassion and willingness to help others. Not that other professions do not do this, but over and over again you will meet acupuncturists giving of themselves without any expectation of return or glory. Due to this, I thought we could take some time to highlight the individuals that were brought to our attention (keep in mind, there are many, many more). If you know of someone that should be on this list that has a unique volunteering project, please contact us.

**If you would like more information or would like to volunteer and are looking for connections, please contact us at admin@aaaomonline.org**

In no particular order, here is some of the great work going on in the field:

• Global Acupuncture Project http://globalacupuncture.org/

Also known as the PanAfrican Acupuncture Project, trains local healthcare workers to use simple and effective acupuncture techniques that enable them to treat the symptoms associated with HIV/AIDS, malaria, TB, and other debilitating conditions.

• Integrative Care Outreach, Seattle, WA https://integrativecareoutreach.org/mission/

Our mission is to provide quality holistic and integrative health care for people experiencing homelessness and low income.

• Project Buena Vista http://projectbuenavista.org/aboutus.html

Project Buena Vista believes that we will reach our conservation mission by providing educational opportunities and health care to the people who live in the rain forest. Buena Vista is a 100 acre property located in the cultural zone of the Manu Biosphere Reserve in southeastern Peru. The place provides an ideal living laboratory for students of all levels and nationalities.

• Wendy Henry with Acupuncture Mobile Services, New York City, NY http://acupuncturemobileservices.com/

Reaches out to the communities it seeks to serve bringing Acupuncture, Imagery and Stress Reduction services into the community. Acupuncture Mobile Services has offered services in the New York City area since "9-11" and provided services in Louisiana post Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma. 

• Outside In, Portland OR, http://outsidein.org/index.php/about-us/

Our mission is to help homeless youth and other marginalized people move towards improved health and self-sufficiency.

• Traditional Roots Healthcare, St. Paul MN, http://www.traditionalrootshc.org/about.html

Traditional Roots Healthcare is a Minnesota based, 501c3, non-profit dedicated to heal, strengthen and empower through traditional medicine.Our vision is to organize sustainable, safe, and culturally diverse healing spaces that incorporate elements of traditional medicine such as, acupuncture, herbal medicine, dietary and lifestyle guidance. Especially for underserved communities affected by acute, chronic, secondary and generational trauma.

• The Fountain Project, Bay Area CA http://fountainproject.org/

The Fountain Project Foundation, Inc., consists of volunteer health workers from Eastern and Western traditions striving to provide free medical treatment to the underprivileged and those with low income.

• The Immune Enhancement Project, Portland OR http://www.itmonline.org/iep/

IEP is a medical specialty clinic where therapy is offered primarily for patients with cancer, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, stroke recovery, chronic pain, and HIV infection.

•  Returning Veterans Project Oregon & Washington https://www.returningveterans.org/

Our volunteer providers are mental health professionals, acupuncturists, naturopaths, chiropractors, massage therapists, and other complementary health care practitioners. We believe it is our collective responsibility to offer support and healing for the short and long-term repercussions of war zone service on veterans and their families.

• Sign of Jonah Partnerships in Healing, Washington D.C. http://www.sojpartners.org/

Sign of Jonah Partnerships in Healing accesses the wisdom of nature and communities to manifest physical and emotional well-being through heart-centered education, treatment and wellness partnerships. 

• Tara Spalty with Streetside Acupuncture Project, San Francisco CA  http://www.slowpokeacu.com/mobile-sessions/

Streetside Acupuncture is a pop-up, mobile community acupuncture clinic that comes to your site to provide acupuncture for a group of people. In collaboration with Saint Francis Homelessness Challenge; A Woman's Place women and transgender shelter; and Homeless Youth Alliance

• CORE El Centro, El Centro CA http://www.core-elcentro.org/mission/

CORE/El Centro offers healing to all individuals and communities and has a passion to create access for those who are of low income. We provide integrative healing therapies designed to nourish body, mind, and spirit in a culturally sensitive environment. 

• Chicago Women's Health Center, Chicago, IL http://www.chicagowomenshealthcenter.org/about

 Chicago Women's Health Center facilitates the empowerment of women and trans*people by providing access to health care and health education in a respectful environment where people pay what they can afford.

• Trauma Healing Center, Eugene OR http://healingattention.org/center/

The Trauma Healing Project was initiated ten years ago by a coalition of survivors, lay community members, professionals, students and researchers concerned about the negative impact of trauma on individual and community health.  We believe that in order to improve the quality of life in our communities and to end violence and abuse, healing and recovery must be understood, promoted, and accessible.

• Jade Women de LeLonde, Lakewood CO http://jadewomandelalonde.org/about

The purpose of Jade Woman de LaLonde, Inc., a 501 (c)(3) tax exempt corporation, is exclusively for charitable, scientific and educational purposes, more specifically to help others by promoting healing, health and wellbeing through training and treatment using the nature based theory of Chinese Medicine at an affordable cost to the patients and clients.

• Unicorn Pins and Potions, Seattle WA  http://www.unicornpinsandpotions.com/

It is our mission to create an accessible healing space using acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, and body work with special consideration for the needs of queer and trans people of color.

• Third Root Community Health Center, Brooklyn NY http://thirdroot.org/TREE/

At Third Root Community Health Center, social justice is at the core of healing. Among our goals are to challenge systematic health disparities, hierarchies within different modalities of healthcare, and to provide a different model of care that grows out of love. We work to provide holistic healthcare for everyone, in acknowledgement of the living realities and histories of the many communities that our clients and students come from. We are also a worker-owned cooperative that believes in work place democracy.

• Acupuncture Relief Project http://acupuncturereliefproject.org/

A volunteer-based, 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Our mission is to provide free medical support to those affected by poverty, conflict or disaster while offering an educationally meaningful experience to influence the professional development and personal growth of compassionate medical practitioners.

• The Wu Project http://www.thewuproject.com/

Aims to bring safe and effective Chinese traditional health care practices to medically underserved communities in remote rural regions of the globe by providing free education and training in Chinese traditional health care and related modalities.

• Old Pine Tree, Free Acupuncture for Veterans, East Lyme CT http://www.oldpinetree.com/asomne/CAV.html

CAV (Community Acupuncture for Veterans) is a non-profit-pending organization founded in East Lyme, CT by citizens and vets who want to make a difference for those who served.  

• Penn North Community Health Initiative, Baltimore MD http://www.penn-north.com/

Maryland Community Health Initiatives, Inc. (Penn North) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that has been delivering essential behavioral health and recovery services through its Penn North Community Resource Center in Baltimore City since 1993. Our mission is to improve the health and wellbeing of individuals and families struggling to overcome substance abuse, homelessness, unemployment, poverty, crime, and violence.  

• Mindful Medicine Worldwide Chicago, IL http://www.mindfulmedicineworldwide.org/

Mindful Medicine Worldwide is a non-profit organization, bringing long-term integrative health care to people of developing areas, by establishing and operating free integrative health care clinics.

• Alternative Healing Network, San Diego CA http://althealnet.org/

Alternative Healing Network, (a 501(c)(3) non-profit) promotes the use of integrative healing arts and improves access to ‘alternative’ health care in under-served neighborhoods.

• Healing Warriors Program Denver, CO http://healingwarriorsprogram.org/about-us/

Provides Acupuncture, CranioSacral therapy and Healing Touch to our Active Duty and Veteran service member community, for assistance with pain management and PTSD symptoms.

• Suitcase Clinic, Berkeley CA http://www.suitcaseclinic.org/

The Suitcase Clinic is a humanitarian student organization and volunteer community offering free health and social services to underserved populations since 1989. Structured around the principles of public health, social welfare, community activism and empathy, the Suitcase Clinic currently operates three weekly multi-service drop-in centers in the city Berkeley: the General Clinic, the Women’s Clinic and the Youth Clinic. 

• Humanitarian Acupuncture Project (Ann Arbor, MI) Sikkim, India https://humanitarianacupunctureproject.org/

For Humanitarian Acupuncture Project President, Anne Biris, the comprehensive vision of her profession always has encompassed the use of acupuncture to relieve the suffering of those who have few or no options for ongoing healthcare,  treat the populations of impoverished and isolated communities, and empower women at the grassroots level by giving them a medical education and an income-producing profession.

• Acupuncturists Without Borders, http://www.acuwithoutborders.org 505-266-3878  admin@acuwithoutborders.org

Provides disaster relief, recovery and support for building resiliency--to communities affected by disasters, human conflict, environmental devastation, poverty and social injustice. Unresolved trauma affects not only the health of individuals, but the well-being of families, communities, and entire nations. Trauma often has repercussions for generations, preventing cooperation, co-existence and peace among the world's people.