At the bustling REEF event center on Friday, UCLA health volunteers were among those who spent hours helping people in need. After taking a number and waiting in line, patients received care at no cost.
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"We're seeing about a thousand patients a day. We're giving them dental, vision and medical care," said Donald Manelli, CEO of Care Harbor, the non-profit that organized the clinic. "I volunteered at a couple of clinics and thought it could be done a lot better."
Some patients were returning from years past. Others were attending for the first time.
Jeffrey Myers, a homeless Army veteran from Los Angeles, said he was recently struck by a car and suffered major injuries.
"I'm going to try to have some work done on my mouth. I had my jaw broken and lost all of my teeth," he said in an interview, adding that he also suffers from "a hip and back problem - that's why I have the cane, to help me walk."
He said his religious faith was helping him recover from the car crash and maintain his optimism.
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"I live on the streets, but I'm not homeless because my heavenly father - the sweet Lord and savior above - has a home for me," he said.
"I think this clinic is a blessing," he said.
Manelli, the CEO, said donations were essential to the three-day event which began Friday and will be continue on Saturday and Sunday.
Each patient must have a wristband, which were distributed on Nov. 11 and 12, to attend the clinic.