Victoria Orihuela is one of the many Santa Maria residents who cannot afford health insurance, making necessary medical care a financial burden. She attended the Life Hope Centers’ free medical and dental clinic at the Santa Maria Seventh Day Adventist Church last Sunday to receive a tooth extraction. The annual clinic has been providing dental, vision, and other services at no charge since 2016 and has given over $2.3 million worth of free medical services to those in need.
Randall Goodman, an ophthalmologist and member of the Santa Maria Seventh Day Adventist Church, states that up to 30% of the Santa Maria population lacks access to quality health care. The services offered at the clinic are entirely volunteer-run, with individuals like Edward Urbina sacrificing their weekends to help those in need. Urbina explains that those who go into their profession usually have a heart of compassion and view this as an expression of their heartfelt compassion to serve.
Hundreds of people attended the clinic to receive various services such as tooth cleanings, haircuts, massages, and physiotherapy. Jaqueline Cruz expresses gratitude towards the volunteers, stating that they are providing a good service to people who do not have accessible healthcare opportunities.
The organization plans to announce the date of their next free medical clinic on their website for those interested in receiving assistance. Click here to learn more about Life Hope Centers’ work in Santa Maria and how you can get involved or receive assistance.
