The Emma Goldman Clinic invited the Iowa City community to dress up in their spookiest attire and play some bar trivia at The Mill Restaurant on Sunday night, Oct. 27. Around 7:30, the pirates and Harry Potter characters strolled into the Iowa City restaurant and “Trick or Trivia” began.
Attendees answered questions about women’s history, reproductive organs and the Emma Goldman Clinic while enjoying some appetizers and good company. Admission was $5 a person with all proceeds going towards the clinic.
Emma employee Maggie Dressel has volunteered and worked at the clinic since she graduated from the University of Iowa in 2017. She has seen the impact of the clinic’s access fund, she said.
“Reproductive rights are under attack right now across the country,” Dressel said. “We’re seeing a lot of people from neighboring states like Illinois, Wisconsin and Missouri come to Emma. It’s really important that we have the subsidy to support them. Definitely over half maybe three-fourths of our patients use the subsidy.”
Clinic board member Kathryn Edel says that while Planned Parenthood is a great organization, she believes the independent clinics need to receive more media coverage. Events like Trick or Trivia educates community members about Emma and its services, Edel said.
“Clinic hosts a couple annual fundraiser and these small fundraiser events are really to engage community members,” Edel said. “It’s a great way to promote education about reproductive healthcare in general. A lot of people are still unfamiliar about the clinic and what care we provide. It’s a great way to familiarize folks with the services we provide.”
About ten people attended the event, resulting in a total of $75 raised for the access fund, Dressel said.
“Healthcare is a right and it’s important to have access to health care, but costs shouldn’t as big as a factor,” Dressel said.
The Emma Goldman clinic provides abortion services as well as contraception, education, advocacy and other gynecology services to Iowa City, Iowa and surrounding states. By providing subsidized fees and discounts, Emma strives to eliminate any and all barriers between their patients and quality, client-centered health care.