The non-profit health clinic Flying Doctors transformed Copper Mountain College’s parking lot and gymnasium into a massive free health clinic where crowds of community members turned up to be taken care of. In cooperation with Healing California, and the Morongo Basin Health District, the Flying Doctors provided free dental, vision, blood pressure and vitals; plus showers, and a food/blood/and clothing bank to our community members in need.
Flying Doctors Southern California Chapter Vice President Jeff Grabow oversaw this elaborate yet easily accessible and all-inclusive free clinic. The amalgam of two primary organizations, Healing California is a non-profit that provides the equipment, while Flying Doctors provide the volunteers.
Grabow said, “We have partnerships with the local VFW and Rotary Clubs—anyone who wants to partner with us, who has the idea of providing benefit to the local people.”
Justin Merino, an EMT with Morongo Basin Healthcare District, explained how they “still screen folks who may not be eligible for dental care due to high blood pressure, etc; but instead of denying them treatment, we walk them out to the MBHD mobile clinic so they can get help with getting their vitals checked, medications, referrals. No one is turned away.”
Not only could community members get their vision checked, but they could also get custom glasses made on the spot with the vision team’s fabrication units.
Sue Hill, a patient from Yucca Valley, said “I had my vision checked, they took pictures of the back of my eye, for retinal circulation, and gave me a clean bill of health. Fabulous, all of them… It’s just unbelievable, the extent everyone has gone to, to make everyone in the community feel loved, wanted, and appreciated.”
Jeff Grabow stated that while this was the biggest effort and turnout in the Morongo Basin yet, he hopes the one they’re planning for 2024 will be even bigger.
