From left, Mike Hertling, Jack Hohman and Kevin Harmon, all from the River City Cosmopolitan Club, which has donated around 0,000 in the last few years to Health Care Access and its diabetes program, volunteer their labor Wednesday at the center’s new location at 330 Maine. Health Care Access still needs to raise 6,000 to pay off the new building before it can move in.

Health Care Access still needs to raise $66,000 before it can move from its cramped home near Haskell Avenue and 19th Street to a more spacious building across the street from Lawrence Memorial Hospital.

For 21 years, the nonprofit agency has provided medical care for uninsured Douglas County residents. The need for such services has grown, and the agency has outgrown its 3,200-square-foot space at 1920 Moodie Road.

“The demand is really overwhelming,” said Nikki King, executive director. “We are still turning away way too many people every day that have an acute problem.”

King said the wait for an appointment is between nine and 10 weeks. The clinic leaves six appointments open daily for acute care, and those are filled within the first 10 minutes after opening.

In June, the clinic raised enough money to match a $96,000 grant and secure the new location at 330 Maine. The 6,000-square-foot building will have 11 clinic rooms instead of the current six.

The location is ideal because it is near the hospital, the Douglas County Dental Clinic, which helps those who can’t afford dental insurance, and the Lawrence-Douglas County Health Department. There also are a number of other clinics, doctors and health agencies in the area. So, not only will it be more convenient for health professionals to volunteer, but it will be easier to refer patients to resources they need.

King said if the move does entice more volunteers, the agency could possibly look at extending hours.

But first, the clinic needs $66,000 to pay off the rest of the building. The board didn’t want to make mortgage payments and then worry about keeping the agency in business. The agency’s annual budget is about $450,000. About 50 percent comes from city, county, United Way and state funding and the rest comes from grants, donations and fundraisers.

“Obviously, we don’t want to jeopardize operating dollars or additional patient care since our demand has been increasing rapidly,” King said.

The agency has been blessed with a number of volunteers who have put their sweat into helping with projects such as remodeling, plumbing and painting. King said the labor costs have been almost nothing.

On Wednesday afternoon, three members of the River City Cosmopolitan Club — Mike Hertling, Kevin Harmon and Jack Hohman — were putting up drywall at the new building. They estimated they had donated about 40 hours each, and said it was time well spent.

“There’s really no comparison,” Hertling said of the two locations. “This one has a lot more space.”

Health Care Access is working on grants to pay for things such as a new phone system, more computers and better security. The entire project is estimated to cost $453,000.

Once the clinic relocates, Health Care Access might turn the Moodie Road location into a wellness center that will provide health resources and classes. In August, it received a five-year extension from the city of Lawrence, so the agency could continue to pay $1 a year to lease the building.

King is hopeful the rest of the money will be raised during the holidays, so the agency can move in January.

“This community is so generous and I think people just are that much more altruistic during the holidays,” King said. “They are really thankful that they have a home, health insurance and they have their health and so we have seen great participation during the holiday season.”