Donations, volunteer doctors, nurses and pharmacists, as well as the agency's staff, make the service possible.

Working with Urban Ministries and TAP-IN, an agency that connects retired doctors with volunteer opportunities, Dr. Donald T. Lucey issued a call last week to retired and soon-to-retire physicians. In a letter sent to 230 area physicians, Lucey said his work at Open Door has "rejuvenated" his love for medicine. The letter also described a $100 malpractice insurance option for volunteers in free clinics and the "exceptionally small" history of malpractice claims brought against them. So far, two doctors have responded.

The clinic served about 4,800 patients in the last fiscal year and expects to serve about 6,200 this year.

During the clinic's Wednesday morning session, 33 uninsured patients saw the clinics' doctors or had lab work performed. At least 20 volunteers, some of them children, helped to operate Urban Ministries' food bank, nutrition center, clinic and other services at the agency's Semart Drive site.

Lucey, who is himself retired, was among them.