The patients who come to Shepherd’s Hand Free Clinic are often facing some of life’s toughest challenges.

Meg Erickson, the clinic’s executive director, says many have had a personal difficulty ­— whether that be grief, debt, the loss of a job or the loss of a home.

“Over time we provide support and encouragement,” she said. “It’s personally gratifying when they come back to celebrate with us the new life that we have become part of — it feels like family.”

For the last 22 years, Erickson has been leading the clinic in its mission to provide medical care to those in the Flathead Valley who were unable to access care, but effective March 1 she is set to step down from her position as executive director of the nonprofit.

The free clinic was founded in 1995 by Erickson and her husband Dr. Jay Erickson. It began as an outreach ministry of the Christ Lutheran Church before becoming its own nonprofit in 2010. The clinic is supported completely by private donations.

Under her leadership Shepherd’s Hand has grown to include a weekly community meal, wellness, behavioral health and dental services.

Sherry Lesar, Shepherd’s Hand volunteer and board president, said Erickson’s vision has made Shepherd’s Hand grow and she has inspired others in the community to volunteer their unique skill sets, and cemented thriving partnerships with many local organizations, businesses and philanthropic individuals in all walks of life.

Lesar said while the board is saddened to see Erickson leave, Shepherd’s Hand is ready to make a transition to a new director because of all of her years of hard work.

“Bringing people together for the betterment and uplifting of all is the reason that Shepherd’s Hand is a success. That is Meg’s true legacy-creating a community of hope by inspiring our volunteers to fulfill their servant hearts by caring for our patients and each other,” she said. “She will never truly be gone — we see her hard work and feel her wisdom and presence in all that we do at Shepherd’s Hand.”

During this transition, the organization will be run by a co-leadership team consisting of Director of Operations Jennifer Hyatt and Volunteer Coordinator Jessica Tubbs, along with key members of the board of directors.

Erickson said she is stepping down to spend more time with her two granddaughters and the time has come for someone to move the vision of Shepherd’s Hand into the future.

Through she will miss leading Shepherd’s Hand, which Erickson says has been a calling for her, she’s ready to move on from the challenges of the administrative duties of running a small nonprofit.

“I’m a caregiver,” she said. “I’ve missed having that personal connection with the patients and the volunteers.”

Last year the clinic saw on average 77 medical patients and 36 dental patients each month. Almost 400 meals were served monthly at the community meal.

The clinic serves people who can’t access health care, who are at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty level. The community meal and wellness programs are both open to the public.

Erickson said Shepherd’s Hand has always been about people.

“The thing we do best is build relationships,” she said. “We may not always be able to help, but we can let people know we care and give them the strength to continue to work through their situation.”

Erickson remembers when her husband first had the idea for the clinic. She has a background in nursing and he is a medical doctor, and both had seen patients who needed assistance and thought a free clinic could be a way to serve those in need.

“We thought it would be a stopgap until national healthcare could be funded,” she said. “We didn’t realize the extent of how many patients needed it or how it would grow — that’s a testament to the whole community.”

For about 15 years, Erickson served as volunteer executive director and after the clinic became a nonprofit she became its paid director. The clinic now has a part-time staff of four.

Though the clinic has helped thousands of patients over the years, sometimes the impact of the clinic isn’t just felt by the patients who come seeking care, but by those volunteering.

Over 200 professional medical, dental and community volunteers staff the clinic, wellness program and meal. There is always a waiting list for those wanting to volunteer.

“Shepherd’s Hand isn’t about a certain group of people helping another group,” Erickson said. “They both give and receive in the same moment. It’s incredible to watch people’s lives changing.”

Support hasn’t come just through volunteer hours, Shepherd’s Hand has established an endowment fund and continues to receive donations of all sizes. Fundraising has also expanded to different forms as many Whitefish restaurants serve the Montana Coffee Traders Shepherd’s Hand blend with proceeds going to the clinic and the Pin & Brew espresso stand donates 100 percent of its profits to the clinic.

The community meals are served by Christ Lutheran Church, Knights of Columbus, First Presbyterian Church of Whitefish, St. Charles Parish and North Valley Hospital.

Erickson said though Shepherd’s Hand is a faith-based organization she’s proud that its work has branched out into and been embraced by the greater community.

“That lets the focus be on people and about including people,” she said.

For more information, visit http://shepherdshand.com/.