Volunteer registration is now open for the state’s largest free health clinic
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Seattle, WA – Volunteer registration is now open for Seattle/King County Clinic, a large-scale free health clinic returning to Seattle Center February 15-18, 2024. With the backing of more than 65 local and national partners, the Clinic represents a joint venture between the region’s public, private, and non-profit sectors to help address the growing health disparities in the region.
In addition to financial and in-kind contributions, many Clinic partners help to recruit more than 3,000 volunteers to set up, operate, and take down the Clinic. Entities from across the state are teaming up to support this ambitious effort, including Amazon, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Climate Pledge Arena, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Kaiser Permanente, Philips Healthcare, Public Health – Seattle & King County, and Seattle Center as well as more than 20 associations for dental, vision, medical, and social work professionals.
“Kaiser Permanente and Washington Permanente Medical Group clinicians and employees are proud to volunteer at the annual Seattle/King County clinic as it closely aligns with our mission to improve the health of the communities we serve,” said Linda Tolbert, MD, executive medical director of the Washington Permanente Medical Group. “We’re honored to partner on this impressive event, and to work in collaboration around providing care and support to the thousands of patients across our region who need access to medical, dental, and vision care.”
Representing more than 75 professions and classifications, clinical and non-clinical volunteers provide ambulatory care to thousands of un- or underinsured people in the region who are otherwise unable to access and/or afford the care they need. Since the Clinic’s inception in 2014, 27,000 volunteers have saved the same number of patients more than $23 million in out-of-pocket costs through services provided free of charge at the Clinic.
“The impact the Clinic has on the region cannot be understated. These volunteers change lives,” said Julia Colson, Project Executive. “Many people think this is a health fair that only serves people experiencing homelessness. What they find instead is a giant, fully functioning clinic that serves people from all backgrounds and circumstances who simply can’t afford their own healthcare. Volunteers are inspired by the opportunity to use their skills and expertise to care for their neighbors and are blown away by the extent of services provided, which range from dental extractions and prescription eyeglasses to diagnostic imaging and lab services.”
The Clinic’s mission has drawn support from local leaders in a wide variety of industries and professions. “Seattle/King County Clinic represents the best our city has to offer. It is the collective effort of thousands of people coming together to fill an essential gap for our community,” said Stone Gossard, philanthropist and founding member of Pearl Jam. “I was overjoyed to participate last year and so impressed by the spirit of the volunteers, the scale of the clinic, and the incredible impact on the patients. I look forward to returning for years to come.”
Volunteer registration is now open at seattlecenter.org/volunteers. Clinic organizers are seeking dental, vision, medical, and social work professionals as well as general support volunteers and interpreters. The number of patients the Clinic can serve on a given day is directly tied to the number of participating volunteers. Sign-ups are especially needed on Thursday and Sunday, as well as morning shifts.
To learn more about Seattle/King County Clinic visit seattlecenter.org/skcclinic or call 206-684-7200.
About Clinic Partners
Several community organizations collaborate to produce Seattle/King County Clinic and contribute needed resources and expertise, including:
141 Eyewear · Amazon · America’s Dentists Care Foundation · AMN Healthcare · APTA Washington · Arcora Foundation · Auston James Photography · Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation · Burkhart Dental Supply · Climate Pledge Arena · Cornish College of the Arts · DCG ONE · Delta Dental of WA · DentistLink · Dentsply Sirona · Envista · Essilor Vision Foundation · Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center · Friends of Seattle Public Library · Gull Industries, Inc. · Hepatitis Education Project · HOPE Animal-Assisted Crisis Response · Jorgenson-Peninsula Optical Supply · Kaiser Permanente · King County Medical Society · King County Nurses Association · KLS Martin LP ·Labcorp · Lucky Seven Foundation · Medical Teams International · Mediterranean Inn · Meta · Microsoft · Mid-Gulf Instruments · National Association of Social Workers – WA Chapter · Optometric Physicians of WA · Pacific Office Automation · Peer Seattle · PhenoPath · Philips Healthcare · Project Access Northwest · Public Health – Seattle & King County · Seattle Center · Seattle Center Foundation · Seattle Fire Department · Seattle Housing Authority · Seattle Information Technology · Seattle-King County Dental Society · Seattle Office of Immigrant & Refugee Affairs · Seattle Opera · Seattle Police Department · Snohomish County Dental Society · SPARK · Underwood Gartland Development · UW Medicine / UW School of Medicine · UW School of Dentistry · Vitalogy Foundation · VOSH Northwest · WA Academy of Eye Physicians and Surgeons · WA Acupuncture and Eastern Medicine Association · WA Association of Naturopathic Physicians · WA Dental Hygienists’ Association · WA Healthcare Access Alliance · WA State Chiropractic Association · WA State Dental Association · WA State Dental Laboratory Association · WA State Department of Health · WA State Nurses Association · WA State Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
