VALDOSTA — A wine-tasting event hopes to raise money for the Partnership Health Center next week, says Amy Draper with Partnership Health Center.

Sponsored by Smitty’s and located at 306 North, the event will benefit Partnership Health Center, which provides free medical assistance to the working uninsured in Lowndes County, with an income under 200 percent of the federal poverty level, ages 18-64, for Lowndes County residents and their dependents (ages 18-64).

There are patients who go to emergency rooms who don’t have what would be considered an emergency by ER triage classifications of life-threatening injuries or symptoms. Essentially, these patients are sick or have a chronic condition that is not immediately life-threatening. Their emergency comes in that they are uninsured, cannot afford to pay a doctor out of pocket, and that the ER must see and treat them.

The clinic is designed to help folks finding themselves in this situation as well as helping with other medical care.

The center is sponsored by the Lowndes County Partnership for Health. Volunteers make the clinic work. Area physicians and other medical personnel are volunteering their time and talents to the center. As more physicians hopefully volunteer, the center hopes to increase its availability in terms of clinic hours, patient eligibility, and other services.

The wine-tasting benefit is scheduled for 5-7 p.m. Tuesday, 306 North, 306 N. Patterson St. Admission: $10 per person. More information: Call 245-0020.