| Free Clinic Beacon House |
| St. Petersburg Free Clinic 863 3rd Avenue N. St. Petersburg, FL 33701 Phone 727.821.1200 Fax 727.821.9263 |
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St. Petersburg Free Clinic was founded in May, 1970 by Warner “Butch” Anderson, a senior psychology major
at the University of South Florida, and his friend, Dr. Linda Shaffer, who practiced at Mound Park Hospital. They
were concerned that thousands of people in the area were not receiving adequate medical care. The public
clinics that cared for the poor had been closed and while Medicare and Medicaid were designed to help the
needy, many physicians in St. Petersburg refused to participate, citing the red tape involved and the low
payments they received. Mr. Anderson and Dr. Shaffer were also concerned with the explosion of illegal drugs
being sold on the streets of the city and the failure or inability of government agencies and the medical
community to recognize the problem and respond to it.
On May 8, 1970 Anderson and Shaffer opened the first Clinic at 429 Third Avenue South. Mr. Anderson served
as the (unpaid) Clinic Director and Dr. Shaffer held the position of (unpaid) Medical Director. The office was
donated by a recently retired physician (Dr. Pettingale). A hand-lettered sign in the window proclaimed: St.
Petersburg Free Clinic. The first day not one patient showed up; as word spread, people in need of care
began to trickle into the Clinic. After 3 months at that address, the Clinic moved to 410 Third Avenue South. In
March 1971, the Clinic moved to 413 Fourth Avenue South, where it stayed for two years.
As the Clinic began serving more individuals, Anderson and Shaffer persuaded several physicians and
nurses to donate their services. Clinics were held whenever a doctor was available - generally on Tuesday
and Thursday evenings and sometimes on the weekends, when the medics of the military reserve saw
patients. All of the equipment was donated; sample prescription medicines; lab work and x-rays were
provided as they could be begged.
In the early 1970’s, the Free Clinic sent volunteers into the community wherever a need was perceived. A
Clearwater branch of the Free Clinic was established in the summer of 1971 and operated under our
umbrella until incorporating as a separate entity on July 1, 1977. In April 1972, a mobile clinic began operating
two days a month in Pinellas Park, providing, among other things, prenatal care, birth control pills and drug
treatment. Through 1974, the George Davis Clinic offered dental and eye care in Pinellas Park.
When the Free Clinic was founded, there was no single agency in the city handling the drug-related problems
of street people, so the Clinic filled the gap as a licensed drug treatment center. No one was turned away, and
an effort was made to solve any problems that were presented. The Clinic became a source of information
and referral as well as an advocate for people who were not receiving the care to which they were entitled.
Between 1972 and 1977 the Free Clinic initiated a drug analysis program, where drug users supplied the
Clinic with street drugs for testing. Very often the drugs were not as “advertised” on the street. The St.
Petersburg Times regularly ran stories detailing the results of the Clinic’s drug tests. By 1977, Operation PAR
(Parental Awareness and Responsibility) was adequately handling street drug problems and the Clinic
decided not to renew its drug treatment license.
In August of 1973 Butch Anderson decided to leave the Clinic and enter the physicians’ assistant program at
the University of Florida. At the same time, the Clinic moved to 433 Seventh Avenue North. Sr. Anne Brooks, a
teacher at St. Cecilia’s School in Clearwater was working as a volunteer at the Clearwater Branch. She
decided to make the Free Clinic her full-time ministry and became the Director. She was joined in 1974 by Sr.
Cora Lee Middleton Steward, who had been a teacher at St. Petersburg Catholic High School. Under the
direction of these two women, the Clinic expanded its reach into the community. In its first year of operation, it
had served 1,200 people; by May 1974, volunteers were treating 400 to 500 people a month at the Clinic and
taking phone calls from 1,200 more. The emphasis of the Clinic shifted during this time from drug treatment
to general medicine. The Clinic became a refuge for people with a multitude of complaints. Sometimes there
were so many people to be seen that the Clinic stayed open until 2:00 AM. The Clinic, which had begun with
one volunteer physician, now had 15 physicians who would come to the Seventh Avenue North property and 5
physicians who would take referrals in their offices.
The Free Clinic had other volunteers engaged in providing non-medical services, such as emergency food,
clothing and housing. This was done informally until 1975, when the Clinic, together with some of the
downtown churches that had been providing the same services, decided to consolidate their efforts into a
centralized agency to screen those who needed aid and to distribute it to them. The new agency, We Help,
incorporated separately from the Free Clinic and has always operated out of the Clinic facility. Its first director
was Marcie Biddleman.
Sister Anne and Sister Cora Lee decided to pursue medical careers in 1976. Sister Cora Lee attended
nursing school at the University of South Florida and Sister Anne entered Michigan State University Medical
School. Before leaving the Clinic, they contacted the Catholic Society of Medical Missionaries for help in
finding a successor. Sister Margaret Freeman joined the Free Clinic in October, 1976 and was named
Director in 1977 when Sister Anne left for Michigan State.
Under Sister Margaret’s direction, the Free Clinic continued to grow, addressing domestic violence, pre-natal
care and hunger. This led to the creation of three agencies that continue to operate in St. Petersburg: The
Center Against Spouse Abuse (CASA, Inc.), which began at the Free Clinic on December 7, 1977, and later
became a separate entity; the New Life Birthing Center, which is now part of Pinellas County Health
Department; and the Suncoast Food Bank (now St. Petersburg Free Clinic Food Bank), which began in April,
1981 with the motto: “Don’t Waste Food, Feed the Hungry.”
Eldercare, a program to provide medical assistance to persons 55 and over, began in July 1992 at the
Sanderlin Center on Twenty-Second Avenue South. Also, in 1992, the Free Clinic established the Sister
Margaret Freeman Foundation in order “to develop a secure future funding base.”
In 1992, Marcie Biddleman was named Executive Director. In 2007, Jane Egbert was named Executive
Director.
In 2006, the Health Center moved back to its current location. In 2007, establishment of the Free Clinic
Endowment Fund with the Community Foundation of Greater St. Petersburg.
at the University of South Florida, and his friend, Dr. Linda Shaffer, who practiced at Mound Park Hospital. They
were concerned that thousands of people in the area were not receiving adequate medical care. The public
clinics that cared for the poor had been closed and while Medicare and Medicaid were designed to help the
needy, many physicians in St. Petersburg refused to participate, citing the red tape involved and the low
payments they received. Mr. Anderson and Dr. Shaffer were also concerned with the explosion of illegal drugs
being sold on the streets of the city and the failure or inability of government agencies and the medical
community to recognize the problem and respond to it.
On May 8, 1970 Anderson and Shaffer opened the first Clinic at 429 Third Avenue South. Mr. Anderson served
as the (unpaid) Clinic Director and Dr. Shaffer held the position of (unpaid) Medical Director. The office was
donated by a recently retired physician (Dr. Pettingale). A hand-lettered sign in the window proclaimed: St.
Petersburg Free Clinic. The first day not one patient showed up; as word spread, people in need of care
began to trickle into the Clinic. After 3 months at that address, the Clinic moved to 410 Third Avenue South. In
March 1971, the Clinic moved to 413 Fourth Avenue South, where it stayed for two years.
As the Clinic began serving more individuals, Anderson and Shaffer persuaded several physicians and
nurses to donate their services. Clinics were held whenever a doctor was available - generally on Tuesday
and Thursday evenings and sometimes on the weekends, when the medics of the military reserve saw
patients. All of the equipment was donated; sample prescription medicines; lab work and x-rays were
provided as they could be begged.
In the early 1970’s, the Free Clinic sent volunteers into the community wherever a need was perceived. A
Clearwater branch of the Free Clinic was established in the summer of 1971 and operated under our
umbrella until incorporating as a separate entity on July 1, 1977. In April 1972, a mobile clinic began operating
two days a month in Pinellas Park, providing, among other things, prenatal care, birth control pills and drug
treatment. Through 1974, the George Davis Clinic offered dental and eye care in Pinellas Park.
When the Free Clinic was founded, there was no single agency in the city handling the drug-related problems
of street people, so the Clinic filled the gap as a licensed drug treatment center. No one was turned away, and
an effort was made to solve any problems that were presented. The Clinic became a source of information
and referral as well as an advocate for people who were not receiving the care to which they were entitled.
Between 1972 and 1977 the Free Clinic initiated a drug analysis program, where drug users supplied the
Clinic with street drugs for testing. Very often the drugs were not as “advertised” on the street. The St.
Petersburg Times regularly ran stories detailing the results of the Clinic’s drug tests. By 1977, Operation PAR
(Parental Awareness and Responsibility) was adequately handling street drug problems and the Clinic
decided not to renew its drug treatment license.
In August of 1973 Butch Anderson decided to leave the Clinic and enter the physicians’ assistant program at
the University of Florida. At the same time, the Clinic moved to 433 Seventh Avenue North. Sr. Anne Brooks, a
teacher at St. Cecilia’s School in Clearwater was working as a volunteer at the Clearwater Branch. She
decided to make the Free Clinic her full-time ministry and became the Director. She was joined in 1974 by Sr.
Cora Lee Middleton Steward, who had been a teacher at St. Petersburg Catholic High School. Under the
direction of these two women, the Clinic expanded its reach into the community. In its first year of operation, it
had served 1,200 people; by May 1974, volunteers were treating 400 to 500 people a month at the Clinic and
taking phone calls from 1,200 more. The emphasis of the Clinic shifted during this time from drug treatment
to general medicine. The Clinic became a refuge for people with a multitude of complaints. Sometimes there
were so many people to be seen that the Clinic stayed open until 2:00 AM. The Clinic, which had begun with
one volunteer physician, now had 15 physicians who would come to the Seventh Avenue North property and 5
physicians who would take referrals in their offices.
The Free Clinic had other volunteers engaged in providing non-medical services, such as emergency food,
clothing and housing. This was done informally until 1975, when the Clinic, together with some of the
downtown churches that had been providing the same services, decided to consolidate their efforts into a
centralized agency to screen those who needed aid and to distribute it to them. The new agency, We Help,
incorporated separately from the Free Clinic and has always operated out of the Clinic facility. Its first director
was Marcie Biddleman.
Sister Anne and Sister Cora Lee decided to pursue medical careers in 1976. Sister Cora Lee attended
nursing school at the University of South Florida and Sister Anne entered Michigan State University Medical
School. Before leaving the Clinic, they contacted the Catholic Society of Medical Missionaries for help in
finding a successor. Sister Margaret Freeman joined the Free Clinic in October, 1976 and was named
Director in 1977 when Sister Anne left for Michigan State.
Under Sister Margaret’s direction, the Free Clinic continued to grow, addressing domestic violence, pre-natal
care and hunger. This led to the creation of three agencies that continue to operate in St. Petersburg: The
Center Against Spouse Abuse (CASA, Inc.), which began at the Free Clinic on December 7, 1977, and later
became a separate entity; the New Life Birthing Center, which is now part of Pinellas County Health
Department; and the Suncoast Food Bank (now St. Petersburg Free Clinic Food Bank), which began in April,
1981 with the motto: “Don’t Waste Food, Feed the Hungry.”
Eldercare, a program to provide medical assistance to persons 55 and over, began in July 1992 at the
Sanderlin Center on Twenty-Second Avenue South. Also, in 1992, the Free Clinic established the Sister
Margaret Freeman Foundation in order “to develop a secure future funding base.”
In 1992, Marcie Biddleman was named Executive Director. In 2007, Jane Egbert was named Executive
Director.
In 2006, the Health Center moved back to its current location. In 2007, establishment of the Free Clinic
Endowment Fund with the Community Foundation of Greater St. Petersburg.
| HISTORY |
| Free Clinic Food Bank |
| Free Clinic Health Center |
| Free Clinic We Help Services |
| Free Clinic Women's Residence |
