Dream of Free Clinic Is Now a Reality

Maritza de Artan had heard about her Panorama City neighbors who didn’t know where to get medical services because they had no medical insurance or money to see a doctor.

She dreamed about getting them help, and after a few telephone calls and a lot of networking, she turned the dream into reality. On Sunday, hundreds of San Fernando Valley residents gathered for the second time in the 14600 block of Blythe Street to receive free medical services from the Buddhist Tzu-Chi Free Clinic.

“This is something else,” said De Artan, director of the Immaculate Heart Community Blythe Street, a nonprofit community organization. “I can’t believe it. A lot of these people are not only poor, they live below poverty level.”

De Artan learned about the free clinic in December while searching for nonprofit organizations to donate toys to area children. Soon, free clinic officials told her they could offer more than toys. In January, they converted two apartments into a temporary clinic.

“This time it’s much bigger,” she said. “We must have at least 1,000 people.”

More than 150 volunteers from all over the U.S. and Canada offered services in acupuncture, pediatrics, dentistry, internal medicine, family practice and other services, clinic spokeswoman Debra T. Boudreaux said.

“The first time we showed up here, residents were a little apprehensive. They could not believe all medical services were free,” Boudreaux said. “This time, they trust us. They know we are for real.”

Hundreds of patients were thrilled by the free services, including the clinic’s first-ever mobile dentist office.

“I have three children and it can get very expensive to take them to the doctor,” Maria de Jesus Ruiz said. “My 3-month-old boy has had a throat infection since he was born. I hope they can help me here.”

The free clinic operates with private donations and has offices in Northridge and Alhambra.