On August 8, 2026, Universal Community Health Center brought together families, community partners, volunteers, and staff for a morning centered on care, connection, and giving back.
Held at UCHC’s O’Neill Clinic, the National Health Center Week Community Celebration took place alongside UCHC’s monthly Saturday food distribution. Community members received fresh food, health education, helpful resources, and back-to-school supplies, all in one welcoming space.
National Health Center Week recognizes the important role community health centers play in improving access to care. For UCHC, the celebration was also an opportunity to demonstrate that supporting good health extends beyond the walls of a clinic.
Addressing Food Insecurity Throughout the Year
Food access remains an important part of UCHC’s commitment to the South Los Angeles community.
In addition to hosting a food distribution on the second Saturday of every month, UCHC operates a food pantry at its O’Neill Clinic Monday through Friday. These services help individuals and families access food and essential items while addressing food insecurity as a key part of community health.
To date, UCHC’s food pantry efforts have served more than 7,800 community members and distributed over 285,000 pounds of food.
Helping Local Students Start the School Year Prepared
Because the celebration took place at the beginning of the school year, UCHC partnered with the Al Barro Foundation to make the event especially meaningful for local children and families.
Together, the organizations distributed backpacks, books, school supplies, games, toys, and other necessities. UCHC has partnered with the Al Barro Foundation on multiple occasions, building an ongoing relationship focused on supporting families throughout the community.
By combining the food distribution with back-to-school support, the event helped families meet immediate needs while giving children resources they could use throughout the school year.
Connecting Families With Health and Community Resources
The event also gave attendees an opportunity to learn about programs and resources available beyond UCHC.
The USC Edward R. Roybal Institute on Aging joined the celebration to share information about Unidos en el Cuidado, a Spanish-language research study for family caregivers supporting loved ones with memory loss, dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, or related conditions.
The study includes three free weekly educational classes that cover dementia, practical caregiving strategies, community resources, and caregiver health and well-being. Eligible participants may also receive up to $80 in gift cards for completing the study surveys.
To learn more about Unidos en el Cuidado, community members can call (213) 740-1887, email swunidos@usc.edu, or complete the program’s online interest form.
Community Care in Action
One unexpected moment from the event captured the spirit of the entire celebration.
When a driver’s car broke down directly in front of the clinic, UCHC Founder, CEO, and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Edgar Chavez immediately stepped in to help restart it. The driver was not attending the event and had no connection to the celebration, they were simply someone who needed help.
It was a small but meaningful reminder that community care is not limited to scheduled services, organized programs, or clinic appointments. Sometimes, it means noticing when someone needs assistance and choosing to step forward.
UCHC is grateful to the Al Barro Foundation, the USC Edward R. Roybal Institute on Aging, participating community organizations, volunteers, staff members, and everyone who helped make the celebration possible.
Special thanks also go to the event sponsors: L.A. Care Health Plan, Cedars-Sinai, Blue Shield of California Promise Health Plan, 4imprint, Labcorp, and AstraZeneca.
Through continued partnerships and community-based programs, UCHC remains committed to addressing the needs of South Los Angeles and providing care that reaches far beyond the exam room.
