Help Oak Orchard Health Celebrate Health Center Week and its 50th Anniversary!
By Karen Kinter, Chief Executive Officer
At Oak Orchard Health (OOH) we are twice as excited to be celebrating National Health Center Week (August 6-12) and our 50th anniversary. It has been fifty years since a few medical residents ventured out to care for those who did not have access to healthcare! Much has changed since then – we now care for more than 30,000 patients across Western Monroe, Orleans, Genesee, Steuben, and Wyoming counties.
National Health Center Week – The Roadmap to a Stronger America
National Health Center Week (NHCW) is an annual celebration with the goal to raise awareness about the mission and accomplishments of America’s community health centers over the past five decades. Community Health Centers serve as the beacon of strength, service, and care in their communities. In moments of pain and loss, they offer support and love. Not too long ago, we gave Covid-19 tests in our parking 
lots and remained open to care for our patients throughout the pandemic.
Each National Health Center Week (NHCW) day is dedicated to a particular area of importance. Oak Orchard is focusing on the following days:
Tuesday, August 8th is Agricultural Worker Health Day. Our roots run deep in the agricultural community Oak Orchard started by caring for farmworkers. During NHCW we will reach out to our patients with items that will help keep farmworkers safe while they work to put food on our tables. Our staff has chosen to donate gently used or new hats and bandanas to agricultural workers so that they stay safe in the heat during their long days. If patients and others in the community would like to donate these items or any others, please drop them off at one of our health centers by July 31st.
Wednesday, August 9th is Patient Appreciation Day. Oak Orchard Health serves more than 30,000 patients and we are grateful that they trust us to keep them and their loved ones healthy. On this day we will be recognizing our patients when they visit our health centers and send thank you messages through our social media channels. Stay tuned!
Thursday, August 10 is Stakeholder Appreciation Day. This is a special day to recognize our elected officials who support our mission. What better way than to show them our newly renovated Albion Dental Center at 362 South Main Street? We are having a Grand Opening with tours of the facility on August 10th from 3-5 PM. Everyone is welcome.
Friday, August 11 is Health Center Staff Appreciation Day. In recognition of their hard work, our Board of Directors will be having some fun with our staff by hosting Ice Cream Socials throughout the week at each health center. This is but a small token of thanks to our staff who work diligently day in and day out.
Oak Orchard Health turns 50 this year!
Over the past fifty years, OOH has grown to eleven health centers where you can get medical, dental, and behavioral health services — but we are so much more than that. Need health insurance? We can show you how to apply and make the process easier. English is not your first language. We have interpreters to help you communicate with your providers and some medical staff speak multiple languages. Having a tough time getting to healthcare services? Oak Orchard provides transportation services. Having trouble paying for healthcare services? We offer a sliding fee discount program based on your income.
Your chance to give back to Oak Orchard Health and your community.
Community Health Centers provide these services for everyone and would like to continue with your help. We are here to serve our entire community, but we need financial support.
Your donation will keep Oak Orchard financially healthy for the medical, dental, and behavioral health staff who make our organization so proud—each one tireless, kind, and skilled in their field. Donating not only fuels vital services; it lets us introduce new ones like the Mommy and Me Program which connects new moms to specialized counselors who help them tackle challenges like postpartum depression.
If you would like to donate, visit our website https://oakorchardhealth.org/donate/
