VENICE FAMILY CLINIC CELEBRATES NATIONAL HEALTH CENTER WEEK AUGUST 5-9

Will Provide School Supplies, Immunizations, Healthy Food, Health Care and Other Services for People in Need and People Experiencing Homelessness

VENICE, CA – (August 22, 2024) – Venice Family Clinic, a nonprofit community health center serving 45,000 people in need from the Santa Monica Mountains through the South Bay, will celebrate National Health Center Week (NHCW) 2024 August 5-9 with events at its clinic sites in Culver City, Hawthorne, Inglewood, Santa Monica and Venice.

“Powering Communities through Caring Connections” is the theme for this year’s National Health Center Week, an annual event that highlights the essential role Venice Family Clinic and the rest of the nation’s community health centers play in improving public health and advancing health equity. Venice Family Clinic will celebrate the week by offering school supplies, bicycle helmets, immunizations, healthy food, health care, insurance and CalFresh enrollment and other services and supplies free of charge to its patients and members of the community.

“Venice Family Clinic is committed to empowering the communities it serves by providing comprehensive care that ranges from distributing nutritious food to combat hunger to ensuring everyone has access to health care regardless of their income or immigration status,” said Venice Family Clinic CEO Dr. Mitesh Popat. “During this special week, we are proud to be recognized for the vital role we play in improving the lives and health of the people we serve.”

Venice Family Clinic will be hosting the following activities during National Health Center Week:

Free Food Market Plus: The Clinic will distribute free healthy fruits and vegetables and provide CalFresh and health insurance enrollment, free COVID-19 vaccines (for uninsured and Medi-Cal patients) and other services.

When: Monday, August 5, 9-11 a.m.

Where: Venice Family Clinic’s Inglewood South La Brea Health Center, 1091 S. La Brea Ave., Inglewood, CA 90301.

Garden Together Day: Patients and the community can decorate and plant individual mini planter pots to take home while they learn about gardening, connect with the Clinic’s health insurance enrollment and Early Head Start programs, and register to vote.

When: Tuesday, August 6, 2-4 p.m.

Where: Venice Family Clinic’s Simms/Mann Health and Wellness Center, 2509 Pico Blvd. Santa Monica, CA 90405.

Homeless Connect Day: People experiencing homelessness can connect with Clinic services, including medical care, dental cleanings and consultations, health insurance enrollment, CalFresh enrollment,  overdose prevention supplies, testing for Hep C and sexually transmitted infections including syphillis, for which L.A. County Department of Public Health will provide initial treatment onsite. L.A. County Homeless Court will help with pedestrian and traffic tickets, and celebrity stylist Jason Schneidman will give free haircuts. Venice Family Clinic will also provide hygiene kits, showers, a bike valet and hot meals.

When: Wednesday, August 7, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Where: Venice Family Clinic’s Chuck Lorre Rose Avenue Health and Wellness Center, 604 Rose Ave., Venice, CA 90291.

Free Food Market: Community members and patients can receive free fruits and vegetables and register to vote in this year’s election.

When: Thursday, August 8, 9-11 a.m.

Where: Venice Family Clinic’s Irma Colen Health Center, 4700 Inglewood Blvd, Culver City, CA 90230.

Children’s Health Day: Students can get free school supplies, bicycle helmets and pediatric vaccines (for uninsured and Medi-Cal recipients). Their parents and caregivers can enroll in health insurance and CalFresh. Other resources will be available. Children and their families may also enjoy face painting, balloons, arts and crafts and a food truck providing free meals.

When: Friday, August 9, 2-6 p.m.

Where: Venice Family Clinic’s Maxine Waters Health and Dignity Center at York School, 11838 York Ave, Hawthorne, CA 90250.

For more information about Venice Family Clinic’s National Health Center Week events, visit venicefamilyclinic.org/nhcw24.

About Venice Family Clinic

Venice Family Clinic is a nonprofit community health center that is a leader in providing comprehensive, high-quality primary health care to more than 45,000 people in need annually, regardless of their income, insurance or immigration status. The Clinic serves an area from the Santa Monica Mountains through the South Bay in Los Angeles County. It has a network of clinic locations and Early Head Start centers in Venice, Santa Monica, Mar Vista, Inglewood, Culver City, Redondo Beach, Carson, Gardena and Hawthorne, plus mobile clinics and an expansive street medicine program to reach people experiencing homelessness. The Clinic’s comprehensive care also includes mental health services, dental care, vision services, substance use treatment, prescription medications, domestic violence counseling, HIV services, healthy food distributions, health education, health insurance enrollment, child development services and more. For more information, please visit VeniceFamilyClinic.org and follow on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram.