Hope House Free Medical Clinic News

Flu update 2026

Jan. 14, 2026

Influenza (“the flu”) took a back seat to Covid during the pandemic but it

remains a very important health condition that you can avoid with some

basic knowledge and by taking a few simple preventative measures. Here

is some helpful information from the Red Cross.

Flu activity

Influenza rates continue to increase as we enter 2026. The CDC says that this flu season has not yet peaked and flu rates are considered high or very high in 48 states.

So far this season there have been over 11 million illnesses, 120,000 people hospitalized and over 5000 deaths related to the flu.

Symptoms

Flu symptoms include fever, body aches, fatigue, sore throat, cough, runny or stuffy nose, and possibly nausea and diarrhea, especially in children.

Most at risk Persons at highest risk are those over 65, pregnant women, children, and persons of any age who have any of several chronic conditions including diabetes, heart disease, asthma or other chronic lung diseases, or immunosuppression for any reason. You can spread the illness to others a day or two prior to developing symptoms and for up to a week after you first experience them yourselves.

How can I avoid the flu?

If you are sick, stay home. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough and wash your hands frequently. Avoid touching your mouth, nose, or eyes. Wearing a mask may help. These are just like the recommendations we remember from Covid 19.

Get a flu shot. They are recommended for everyone over the age of 6 months and it’s not too late to get one. They are in stock at the Ferris Rowe Pharmacy Care Clinic, our free clinic pharmacy partner. The CDC says that only about 46% of all eligible people have received a flu shot for the 2025-26 season as of January 2026.

Don’t let the flu take you down or your loved ones. Get your flu shot and stop the spread!

Community engagement with Big Rapids High School Art Club

March 7, 2025

Some Stories are Just Too Good Not to Celebrate.

Friends, here is one of those stories.

Late last fall, Big Rapids High School Art Club members, led by their advisor, BRHS art teacher Tiffany Oliver, organized a fundraiser. They had two goals: raising funds for art supplies for their club and donating 50 percent of their earnings to a non-profit of their choice.

After taking a vote, Hope House Free Medical Clinic was selected as the recipient of $300.

Hope House is delighted to receive their donation, mainly because the students worked hard to earn it.

After much thought, the members chose to use the money for hygiene supplies, medications or vaccines.

Why is this little story so important?

It shows us that many caring, understanding young people in this world are willing to give to those less fortunate and reach out to our community to help in small (and large) ways.

Hope House thanks Tiffany and her Art Club team and invites them to tour our clinic when convenient.

We wanted to publicly thank them for thinking of us, and the money is being directed as they wished it to be!