WEST PAWLET – Community Health Mettowee is celebrating 25 years as a family practice.
“Community Health Mettowee is a great place to work. We are like a little family here,” said Debbie Buxton, LPN, one of the original Mettowee nurses who is celebrating 25 years as a family practice in the beautiful rolling hills of Mettowee Valley.
She joined Community Health when local providers came together to form what today is the Community Health Mettowee practice.
The land that Community Health Mettowee sits on in West Pawlet, Vermont, was purchased from local farmers Hazel and James Covino.
A photograph of the Covinos by photographer Neil Rappaport is displayed in the Community Health Mettowee waiting room.
“We are in the middle here in Pawelt, between Rutland and Glens Falls, and we are the first place people think of,” said Buxton.
Many of the staff are neighbors, living in Pawlet, Wells, Granville, New York and other nearby towns.
In addition to primary care, Community Health Mettowee provides area residents with diabetes education, behavioral health, blood drives, flu shot clinics, medical assistance to local school districts, community food bank drives, fundraisers for local nonprofits and holiday giving events.
Mettowee is a Farmacy distribution site, a program supported by Community Health and coordinated by the Vermont Farmer’s Food Center, supplying individuals and families with locally grown produce.
A bountiful and beautiful garden is planted by the Mettowee staff each year, producing a harvest they also share.
Years ago, a dachshund named Pumpkin was the office mascot who joyfully greeted visitors and employees.
The practice is accepting new patients and continues to grow and expand programs and services to keep health care accessible and affordable.
