This little girl was extremely excited to get her new flower covered backpack during the Back-to-School Health Fair at Dignity Health’s Family Care Clinic in Merced.
This family was incredibly excited to get ready for the upcoming school year.
Event organizers and volunteers gather for a group photo just ahead of the giveaway.
Whole families showed up to the event, ready for the upcoming school year.
Hundreds of locals line up outside of Dignity Health’s clinic on 13th Street in Merced, eagerly awaiting their school supplies and checkups.
Young students show off their new backpacks.
Dignity Health’s brand-new Mobile Care Clinic was on display for all to see and learn about.
One of the numerous families attending Saturday’s Back to School Health Fair hosted by Dignity Health make their way to the event’s booths.
Dignity Health Mercy Medical Center hosted the annual Back to School Health Fair last Saturday, July 27, in the ongoing effort to support young people in the community as they return to school, and to improve access to medical care for families.
The event attracted hundreds of family members who lined the sidewalks and filled the parking lot at Dignity Health’s Family Care Clinic on 13th Street in Merced. More than 400 backpacks and 150 drawstring bags equipped with coloring supplies were given out. Also, the kids were able to take a spin on the prize wheel, getting extra goodies as supplies lasted. On top of that, free check-ups and physicals were performed throughout the day, with the goal of serving 75 patients.
“This event is amazing,” Dignity Health’s Jessica Escobal said. “The best part of the job is getting to see the kids faces when they pick out a backpack and get it, as well as their enthusiasm to get ready for school.”
Escobal also handed out information for those who may be in need of health services, saying: “We are always taking new patients, so even if you are not an existing patient, we never turn anyone away. We would be happy to take care of you. As far as community resources, we have just hired a new social worker, and we have a new community health navigator, with a ton of new resources as well. … Keep an eye out, we’re going to be in the community a lot more.”
Dignity Health’s newly secured Mobile Care Clinic was on display for attendees to see, explore, and learn about. The clinic on wheels — made possible through grant funding from Central California Alliance for Health — will be servicing the whole county, with a focus on the homeless/unhoused communities as well as migrant camps and other underserved areas. The large bus-like vehicle is surprisingly well-equipped and prepared for a wide variety of services, all provided free of charge. These services include, but are not limited to, point of care testing, basic screenings, physicals, along with what you would generally expect of most urgent care facilities and clinics.
“We are letting people know that this service will be coming,” said Celeste Baxter, the Mobile Clinic supervisor. “Basically, this unit is like a little urgent care. We are trying to keep people from needing to go to the Emergency Room. If we are able to provide care to people who are struggling early, then they will be less likely to go to the E.R.”
Currently, the Mobile Care Clinic does not have a schedule or any set locations for where it will be visiting to serve the public. However, this is only because it is still brand new.
Details will be posted to their websites soon, Dignity officials say. An official unveiling and ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Mobile Care Clinic is set for Friday, Aug. 2.