A long line forms as people wait Thursday, May 8, 2025 to get free health care on the final day of the four-day Pathway to Health clinic, run by the Seventh-day Adventist Church, at America’s Center in downtown St. Louis.

ST. LOUIS — People began getting in line at 5 a.m. for a free mega health clinic held at St. Louis’ downtown convention center this week. Lines stretched for blocks by the time it opened at 7 a.m., and hundreds were turned away.

“We always have more people needing services than we can offer,” said Randy Griffin, a volunteer dentist from Indiana, as he tried to focus on the number he helped instead of those who didn’t make it through the doors.

“It’s just a drop in the bucket,” he said before a long pause to fight back tears. “But at least that drop got taken care of.”

More than 1,800 health care professionals and volunteers were on hand to provide dental, vision and medical care over the course of the four-day clinic that wrapped up Thursday inside the massive America’s Center.

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Organizers said by Wednesday, they had provided nearly 5,100 services to patients. They expected to exceed 7,000 by the end of the day Thursday. But it still wasn’t enough to meet the need.

Ben Broadnax, 58, a retired police officer, came at noon Wednesday seeking dental care, but the clinic had already reached capacity for the day.

Broadnax returned at 7 a.m. Thursday, but the line was so long he had to return to his home in Florissant to get a walker because he needed help standing. When he returned at 9:30 a.m., the line was closed.

Broadnax said he considered getting in line for vision care, but that line also stretched a few blocks and wasn’t moving. He opted for the faster-moving medical care line instead. More than two hours later, he was finally close to making it into the clinic.

He hoped to get a referral for help with a painful broken tooth and expired eyeglass prescription, he said. He has health insurance but cannot afford dental and vision coverage.

Broadnax said, looking around at everyone on the sidewalks, “This shows you how great the need is for sufficient health care.”

Manisha Middabelli, of St. Louis, tries on different pairs of glasses during a free health care clinic at America's Center in downtown St. Louis on Tuesday, May 6, 2025. Pathway to Health, a humanitarian mission of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, sponsored the clinic to provide free medical care on a first-come, first-served basis through Thursday.

The mega clinic, Pathway to Health, is a humanitarian mission of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. The first clinic was held in 2014 in the San Francisco area by church members wanting to help their community.

It formed as an official nonprofit in 2015 and has since held eight large-scale clinics across the country, with a break during the COVID-19 pandemic, in cities such as Indianapolis and San Antonio.

Volunteers provided medical services such as primary care, cardiology, dermatology, psychiatry, podiatry, women’s health and even minor surgeries with local anesthesia. They also connected patients to local providers for follow-up.

Dental services included cleanings, fillings and extractions. And vision care included eye exams and prescription glasses. Other services such as physical therapy, massage, haircuts and clothing items were also available.

Those who came through the doors included the homeless and new immigrants with no health insurance, or those with insurance facing long waits for appointments or the inability to afford deductibles and co-pays.

On Thursday, a volunteer wheeled Debbie Bott around in a wheelchair as she got eyeglasses, cortisone shots in her joints, a haircut and mental health therapy. Bott, who used to DJ at dance clubs in The Grove, said she has been homeless since escaping an abusive relationship in December. On the streets, she was assaulted and injured.

Bott, 60, called the free clinic a blessing. “It made me feel like at least somebody f---ing cares, because when you’re out there and have nobody ...,” she said, starting to cry.

Shekela Bester, second from left, of Florissant, makes a video of musicians as she waits with her daughter for dental care on Thursday, May 8, 2025, the final day of the Pathway to Health clinic run by the Seventh-day Adventist Church at America′s Center in downtown St. Louis. “It’s a message of hope,” said Bester of the music performed by volunteers Anika Parshaw, right, of Houston, Missouri, and KhaiKhai Cin, of Michigan.

Pamela Cooper, 63, of St. Louis, waited to see a physical therapist for knee pain and also had a painful cyst removed on her back. Cooper said she has Medicaid but was facing a confusing array of referral requirements and appointment times that were months away.

After waiting about five hours Wednesday to get her knee X-rayed, Cooper was able to receive a pass to return Thursday to receive the rest of her care without waiting in line.

“I was able to come in here and get what I needed done,” Cooper said, also tearful. “I’m so happy. It’s wonderful.”

Tamara Coleman, 49, of St. Louis, works part time in home health care. She had health insurance through the Health Insurance Marketplace, which provides subsidies to help with cost, but Coleman said she fell behind paying her monthly premiums.

On Thursday, Coleman saw a therapist for back pain and had a painful abscess removed from her thigh.

“It could’ve gotten infected,” Coleman said. “The doctor said she was glad I came when I came.”

William Nearing, of St. Louis, undergoes a tooth extraction procedure by Dr. Efren Rodriguez, left, of Los Angeles, and assistant Addison Moreland during a free health care clinic at America's Center in downtown St. Louis on Tuesday, May 6, 2025.

Kristin Griffin, 28, of St Louis, brought her teen-age nephew for a school physical and eye exam. He speaks Spanish and lives with an uncle, who does not have health insurance.

“Being able to walk in and not having to show any I.D. is great,” Griffin said, as many immigrants are getting caught up in deportation efforts by the Trump administration.

David Smith, 47, of Spanish Lake, said he works as a substitute special education teacher and can’t afford health insurance premiums. He was in a dentist chair around 11:30 a.m. Thursday, after lining up at 5:10 a.m. outside.

Smith got a wisdom tooth and two cracked teeth removed and was also able to learn through imaging tests that he needs knee surgery.

“It means a lot,” he said of the free care. “It makes me better at my job. I have less to worry about, so I can focus.

Amanda Sasmita, 23, volunteered all week at the clinic after just finishing her second semester of nursing school in Chattanooga, Tennessee. She helped bring supplies to doctors and made sure patients knew where to go. Her uncle, from Colorado, also volunteered as a dentist.

Sasmita said patients were thankful, but also stressed from long waits, missing work and trying to manage young children. She also saw people from all walks of life, each having faced different hurdles to getting treatments they needed.

“It very much shows that everyone deserves medical care,” Sasmita said. “Compassionate medical care is for everyone.”

A free health care clinic sponsored by Pathway to Health, a humanitarian mission of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, fills America's Center in downtown St. Louis on Tuesday, May 6, 2025. People are provided medical, dental, vision and other services on a first-come, first-served basis through Thursday.

Post-Dispatch photographers capture hundreds of images each week; here's a glimpse at the week of April 27, 2025. Video edited by Jenna Jones.

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