Americares staff and volunteers will bid farewell to its mobile clinic, which is headed to Puerto Rico, during a sendoff ceremony at noon on Tuesday, Nov. 28.
The national charity, based in Stamford, is donating the mobile medical unit to the Ponce Medical School Foundation in Puerto Rico, which is providing outreach to survivors in communities hard hit by Hurricane Maria, including primary care and mental health services.
________
— an announcement from Americares
________
More than two months after the hurricane, much of the island remains without power, disrupting access to care.
Photo from Americares
This bus will get Puerto Rico license plates and continue to be used as a mobile clinic, but now just in Puerto Rico.
Over the years, Americares deployed the mobile clinic to provide health care to the uninsured and respond to emergencies across the United States.
The 40-foot converted school bus with two exam rooms went to New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, to Texas after Hurricane Ike and to health centers across New York City after Superstorm Sandy.
The unit primarily served as a mobile outpost for the Americares Free Clinics in Connecticut, providing care for low-income, uninsured residents.
Over the years, the unit was stationed in Bethel, Bridgeport, Brookfield, Groton, New London, New Milford, Norwich and Stamford. It was in service in Stamford until January when the clinic moved to a permanent location.
The sendoff ceremony will be held on #GivingTuesday, which kicks off the charitable giving season, much like Black Friday and Cyber Monday start the holiday shopping season.