As I walk through the halls of our medical and dental clinic each morning, it’s hard to believe that we’ve been in this space for a full year now. What a journey it has been — equal parts challenging and exciting, filled with lessons we never expected to learn and moments of pure joy that reminded us why we do this work.

Finding the right space for Oasis Free Clinics felt like searching for a needle in a haystack. We needed something that could accommodate our growing medical, dental, eye and mental health services while remaining accessible to the communities we serve. When we finally found the location at 331 Maine St. in Brunswick, we knew it had potential, but it would require significant renovation to transform it into the welcoming space we wanted for our patients.

Working with Ouellet Construction proved to be one of the highlights of this entire process. Their team didn’t just understand our vision — they enhanced it. They navigated the unique challenges of creating a medical and dental facility with patience, expertise and genuine care for our mission. Every decision, from the flow of patient areas to the placement of equipment, was made with our community’s needs at the forefront and done with good humor and kindness.

One of our most treasured additions has been the mural designed and painted by Portland artist Ryan Adams. What started as an idea to brighten our walls has become so much more. The artwork has quickly evolved into a beloved focal point — not just for our patients and staff, but for visitors who often pause to take photos in front of its vibrant colors and meaningful imagery. It’s become a symbol of hope and community that perfectly captures the spirit of what we’re trying to accomplish here.

Of course, settling into a new space comes with its own unique learning curve. Each room has its quirks — from the door that sticks just a little to the corner where the Wi-Fi signal needs a boost. We’ve spent months getting acquainted with these little personalities, and our team has shown remarkable adaptability in making every space work efficiently for patient care.

Perhaps most surprisingly, we’ve discovered that running our own facility means mastering skills we never expected to need. Who knew that refilling the toilet paper dispenser properly could spark passionate debate among staff? Or that selecting hand soap required considering everything from skin sensitivity to dispenser compatibility? We’ve become experts in the art of inventory management, learning to anticipate needs and stock supplies that keep our operations running smoothly.

The vacuum cleaner selection process deserves its own chapter. Maine winters bring their own challenges, and we quickly learned that not all vacuums can handle the daily assault of snow, salt and sturdy winter boots that our patients and staff track through our doors. Finding equipment that could stand up to our New England reality became a mission in itself.

These operational lessons have been learned alongside our primary focus: providing high-quality medical, dental, eye and mental health care to our patients. Every day, our dedicated team continues to deliver compassionate, comprehensive care while simultaneously mastering the ins and outs of facility management. It’s been a testament to their flexibility, commitment and unwavering dedication to our mission.

As we mark this one-year milestone, I’m filled with gratitude for the incredible community that made this dream a reality. Our staff and contractors embraced every challenge with grace and professionalism that never ceased to amaze me.

But this transition wouldn’t have been possible without the army of volunteers who stepped up when we needed them most. Community members, Rotarians, Mid Coast Hospital staff and Bowdoin College students showed up with willing hands and generous hearts to help us pack, move and unpack. Our provider and administrative volunteers went above and beyond their usual duties, while our board of directors and committee members provided leadership and support through every phase of this process. These dedicated individuals helped us organize our new space, hosted open houses, gave countless tours and became ambassadors for our new clinic, welcoming our community with warmth and pride.

The financial support that made our new clinic possible came from so many generous sources. We’re deeply grateful to our individual donors who believed in our mission, to foundations that invested in our vision and to the United Way of Mid Coast Maine for their ongoing partnership. Area churches opened their hearts and wallets, local businesses stepped up as community partners, and countless others contributed to making this facility a reality. Every donation, large and small, played a vital role in creating this space where care happens daily.

Most importantly, we’re grateful for our patients who trusted us through this transition and continue to find healing within these walls.

This space has truly become our home, quirks and all. Every lesson learned, every challenge overcome has made us stronger and better equipped to serve our community. Here’s to many more years of growth, compassionate care and making a difference in the lives of our neighbors when they need us.

Oasis Free Clinics is a nonprofit, no-cost primary care medical practice and dental clinic providing exceptional, patient-centered care to uninsured members of our community. For more information, call 721-9277 or visit OasisFreeClinics.org.

Anita Ruff is the executive director of Oasis Free Clinics.