For some residents of Santa Maria, like Victoria Orihuela, affording health insurance has become increasingly challenging. Orihuela explains, “Paying for health insurance has become really expensive these days and that’s why I don’t have it, I can’t afford it.” Fortunately, Orihuela was able to attend the free medical and dental clinic at the Santa Maria Seventh Day Adventist Church hosted by Life Hope Centers on Sunday. She was able to receive a tooth extraction, a procedure that would have otherwise cost her hundreds of dollars.
Upon signing in, Orihuela was quickly seated in the dental chair. The annual free clinic has been held in various locations from Santa Maria to San Francisco since 2016, offering dental, vision, and other medical services at no cost. Organizers estimate that the clinic has provided over $2.3 million in free medical services. Randall Goodman, an Ophthalmologist and Member of the Santa Maria Seventh Day Adventist Church, acknowledges that roughly 30% of Santa Maria residents do not have access to quality healthcare.
The services at the clinic are entirely volunteer-driven, with individuals like Edward Urbina generously giving up their weekends to help. Urbina states, “Those that go into our profession generally have a heart of compassion, and this is an expression of their heartfelt compassion to serve.” The clinic offered a range of services including tooth cleanings, haircuts
