CULLMAN, Ala. – Saturday, Sept. 13, marked a significant milestone for the Good Samaritan Health Clinic as the organization celebrated the groundbreaking of its future home alongside its first-ever Health & Wellness Fun Day.
“Seeing the groundbreaking for our new clinic was surreal,” said Executive Director Jolanda Hutson. “Just a short time ago, this was only a vision and now it’s becoming real, thanks to the incredible support of our community and beyond. It’s a powerful reminder of what we can accomplish when we come together for a common purpose — to care for one another.”
Construction officially began Monday, Sept. 15, with Badger Building, Inc. serving as general contractor. The 5,040-square-foot clinic is expected to be complete by late spring or early summer 2026. “The next step is for our contractor to mobilize and begin building,” Hutson explained. “If all goes according to plan and the weather cooperates, we’re hopeful of moving into our new home by mid-2026. It’s an exciting chapter, and we’re looking forward to watching progress unfold.”
Once complete, the new clinic will give Good Samaritan the space and stability needed to expand its services and strengthen its long-term mission. “This permanent home allows us to grow intentionally, serve more patients with compassion and excellence and remain rooted in our community for generations to come,” Hutson said.
She explained that the project is built on three key pillars: stability, prevention and access. “Owning our own facility ensures long-term stability — freeing us from the uncertainty of leased space,” she said. “We’re also expanding our focus beyond treating illness to promoting total health and well-being, while continuing to provide exceptional care for all uninsured residents. We believe that everyone deserves access to compassionate, high-quality care.”
She added, “These pillars form the foundation for a healthier Cullman and this new facility is where that vision becomes reality.”
While the groundbreaking was the morning’s highlight, the celebration continued with the inaugural Health & Wellness Fun Day. The event brought together 13 nonprofit organizations, eight small businesses, seven stage sessions, four mobile health units, five food trucks and a full slate of family activities.
“With any first-time event, it’s hard to predict exactly how many people will show up. While we had capacity for more attendees, the feedback was overwhelmingly positive,” Hutson said. “The level of support from our partners was nothing short of amazing. Everyone showed up with incredible energy, generosity and a shared commitment to the health and well-being of our community, which made the day really special.”
But for Hutson, the most meaningful part of the day was seeing so many groups working side by side. “My favorite part of the day was seeing nonprofits, businesses, health providers and volunteers all gathered in one place with a shared purpose,” she shared. “That sense of unity was inspiring to see.”
Looking ahead, Hutson said her hope is that the event left a lasting impact on those who attended. “I hope community members walked away with something practical they can use in their own lives to improve their health and well-being,” she added. “Maybe they found a new resource, made a meaningful connection or even reconnected with an old friend. And most of all, I hope they had fun, because emotional well-being and human connection are just as essential to health as any service we provide.”
As the groundbreaking marks the start of a new chapter, Hutson said the clinic’s primary focus is on construction but hinted that another big celebration is on the horizon. “Our hope is that the next big community event will be an Open House to celebrate the opening of our new clinic,” she said. “Who knows? We may even incorporate another Health & Wellness Fun Day into that celebration now that we’ll have the space to host events like this on our own property moving forward.”
Hutson offered thanks to the many individuals and organizations who helped bring both the groundbreaking and Fun Day to life. “This truly was a community event in every sense of the word — by the community, for the community,” she said. “We absolutely could not have hosted an event of this magnitude without the incredible support of our sponsors, participants and volunteers.”
Top sponsors included NEXTGen IT (Event Title Sponsor), Freedom Insurance – Gloria Williams (Small Business Row Sponsor), Desperation Church (Nonprofit Row Sponsor), Virgil B. Fowler Insurance (Food Truck Alley Sponsor), AJK, LLC (Mobile Health Units Sponsor), Jerry and Lora Raley (Fun Zone Sponsor) and an anonymous individual (Stage Sponsor).
For those who want to keep up with the new clinic’s progress, learn about services or support its mission, visit www.goodsamaritancullman.com, email jhutson@goodsamaritancullman.com or follow the clinic on Facebook at GoodSamaritanCullman and Instagram at GoodSamaritanClinicCullman.
Good Samaritan Health Clinic is currently located at 401 Arnold St. NE, Suite A, Cullman, in the basement of Folsom Center Long Term Care (the former Cullman Hospital ER). The new facility will be at 118 Veterans Dr. SW.
