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Free Health Care Offered On Community Service Day

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Jan 19, 2009 8:01 pm US/Mountain

Free Health Care Offered On Community Service Day

Reporting
Kathy Walsh
DENVER (CBS4) ― While thousands marched in unity on Monday to honor Martin Luther King, Jr., thousands of others worked in the community. For them, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is a day they dedicate to volunteering.

On the eve of the presidential inauguration, the Community Service Day helped launch Barack Obama's call to "renew America" together. One group held a huge health fair at Manual High School in Denver. Up to 1,500 uninsured and underinsured people took advantage of the free health care.

Nine-year-old Alejo Perez and his brother each took the opportunity to get free dental exams. It was the first time the boys have ever had their teeth checked.

"You know how the economy is we can't afford stuff like this so we just took the chance," father Freddy Perez said.

The Perez family was first in line at Manual High School. Many of the adults and children needed immunizations and screenings. It was all free of charge thanks to Kaiser Permanente medical staff and Metro Volunteers.

"I think it absolutely is," Dr. Jandel Allen-Davis with Kaiser Permanente said about the importance of volunteering with the bad economy. "Especially since there is always going to be a greater need than there are people to actually provide services."

Freddy Perez was so impressed by the effort; he showed up for medical care and stayed to help translate.

About 300 volunteers worked the health fair. There were also many other people volunteering across the state.

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