It was 8 p.m., Thursday night, on April 19, 2018, outside the Angel of the Winds Arena in Everett, Wash., when the first woman camped out the night before the AMEN (Adventist Medical Evangelism Network) Everett medical clinic opened its doors. By midnight, two people had joined her in waiting to receive free medical, dental and vision services. And then even more people showed up.
Paula Beatty, local clinic director for AMEN Everett, received many calls before the weekend of the clinic from residents asking, “Is this really a free medical service?” And she would reply with a hearty, "Yes!"
During the two-day clinic, about 800 volunteers served almost 1,000 underinsured and uninsured Snohomish County and King County residents with free medical, dental and vision services in addition to haircuts, counseling and prayer.
“I waited two hours and was the first dental patient of the day,” says Maddy, an 18-year-old whose aunt heard about the clinic on Facebook. “Got right in without extra waiting. It feels so good to have clean teeth.”
Through one-on-one interactions with volunteers, patients expressed their gratitude of the free services offered and were in awe at the kindness and compassion of the volunteers at the AMEN clinic.
“What I feel like I can do the most is educate them,” says Jonathan Fish, medical lifestyle volunteer. “If I can make a difference in a man’s life by sitting and talking with him for 45 minutes … so be it.”
Along with the opportunity to serve the community, AMEN Everett student volunteers had the opportunity to gain clinical experience and gain confidence in working alongside professionals from their chosen field.
“The business community has provided for the equipment that the clinic needed through acts of generosity,” says Beatty. “People fell in place to make this clinic happen. All these amazing people came when they needed to.”
Kami Borg, an Adventist volunteer from Forest Park Church in Everett, learned about the severe housing shortage in her community, for example, as she listened to a life story of one woman, living with her family of five month to month in a hotel, who could not qualify for housing.
“Along with 700-plus volunteers I was blessed to be part of the AMEN free medical clinic in Everett,” says Borg. “It was a transformative experience, and, while I struggle to describe its deep impact, I will say that I felt the presence of God as never before. I am humbled and grateful. And I am changed.”
A volunteer shares a mirthful moment with a resident.
The dental team is hard at work at the AMEN Everett medical clinic.
A resident waits for the dental team with her sign language translator.
Barbers and hair stylists provide 75 Snohomish County and King County residents with free haircuts.
A volunteer talks with a resident after her massage.
Health education and lifestyle services spent time talking with the residents and offering resources and prayer.
Registration team helps to check a patient in for medical care.
