Wichita ? A Wichita clinic that has served the needy for 24 years will be able to stay open for at least two more weeks after the state came through with the first payment of a new grant.

“That keeps the doors open two more weeks at least,” said Karlen Jones, executive director of GraceMed Health Clinic, formerly United Methodist Health Clinic.

Slow donations, delays in state funding and past financial problems have combined to create a financial crisis for GraceMed, which has 13,000 active patients.

State budget problems have created delays in processing of funds for the past two quarters, causing the clinic to struggle to meet payroll. Then the center was notified that the first funds from a new $110,000 grant from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment would be delayed until Nov. 15.

Jones feared that might be the last straw.

But health department spokeswoman Sharon Watson said the first payment of that grant was processed Tuesday and should arrive at the clinic in a few days.

GraceMed laid off 20 percent of its staff — five workers, including one halftime physician — Tuesday.

“We desperately need the staff,” Jones said. “But I don’t have the money to pay them.”

Letters have gone out to past donors, and Jones is exploring every option she can locate for emergency funding.

“It’s going to be up to the people who can afford to make a donation to help us,” she said. “If we get enough donations, we’ll make it. If not …”

GraceMed’s monthly operating costs are about $100,000, about half of which comes from Medicare and Medicaid payments and from what other patients can afford. Additional money, about 3 percent of the budget, comes from the United Methodist Church conference office. The remainder comes from private donations or grants.