Kindred is participating in the POCA May Membership Drive. What is POCA you might ask? POCA stands for the People's Organization of Community Acupuncture, without which we wouldn't be able to do the work we are doing.
POCA's mission is to “Work cooperatively to increase accessibility to and availability of affordable group acupuncture treatments”. POCA includes both patients and punk, we support each other to successfully practice in a community setting so many more wonderful patients like you can receive acupuncture.
The membership drive is important because funds go directly to microloans for new community acupuncture clinics and support POCA's acupuncture school, POCA Technical Institute. Microloans mean new clinics in areas where currently there are none. These projects are so important to me because I want your dear Aunt Sally and Cousin Raj to benefit from acupuncture too! And in order for there to be more clinics, we need more punks! A typical acupuncture education leaves students $60,000-$200,000 debt, making it challenging for recent graduates to start and run a clinic. Additionally, working in a community clinic requires extra skill sets that our school specifically focuses on. Our school provides an affordable alternative that trains acupuncturists to best meet their community's diverse needs.
Memberships are on a sliding scale from $25-100, just like our treatments the membership is the same no matter what you pay, we appreciate the contribution that you give. To sign up for a membership go to the sign-up page on the poca website, or just come in and we'll walk you through it at the clinic.
The membership can pay for itself in a few treatments, because as a thank you for signing up, membership includes a free treatment on your birthday, three “free treatment” coupons to share with friends and family, and all first-visit fees are waived at any POCA Clinic, anywhere in the world.
We are creating jobs, creating community, and creating a healthier future for everyone. We hope you will join us in this endeavor. If you have any questions please check out POCA's vision statement, or for goodness sakes, come in and talk with Gayle and I.