Volunteers needed for state's largest free healthcare clinic

BY CONTRIBUTED REPORT

Registration is now open for volunteers to support Seattle/King County Clinic, a four-day free healthcare clinic returning to Seattle Center from April 24–27, 2025.

This milestone event marks the 10th year of Washington’s largest free health clinic, providing critical care to un- and underinsured individuals. Organizers are calling for dental, vision, medical, and social work professionals, along with interpreters and general support volunteers, to join this remarkable effort.

A collaborative project led by Seattle Center and Seattle Center Foundation, the Clinic unites healthcare organizations, civic agencies, nonprofits, businesses, and thousands of volunteers to deliver free, comprehensive healthcare services to thousands of patients.

“Each year, I am inspired by the commitment of volunteers and partners to ensure people who are underserved in our community receive essential care,” said Julia Colson, Seattle/King County Clinic Project Executive. “From dental extractions to eye exams and prescription eyeglasses, the impact of their work is profound, improving lives and bringing hope to those who need it most.”

Since its inception in 2014, the Clinic has provided care to over 30,000 patients, saving them more than $26 million in out-of-pocket costs. Representing more than 75 professional roles, clinical and non-clinical volunteers deliver ambulatory care to people who otherwise cannot access or afford it.

Seattle/King County Clinic is made possible by partnerships with more than 70 organizations, including Kaiser Permanente Washington, Climate Pledge Arena, and Public Health – Seattle & King County.

“Our current healthcare system presents real barriers to care for everyone, but particularly for low-income, under- and uninsured patients,” states Christine Lindquist, Executive Director for Washington Healthcare Access Alliance. “Each individual effort to bridge these gaps is a meaningful act that positively impacts lives. Thousands of volunteers uniting to meet the healthcare needs of our regional neighbors represents the best of what we can be as a community."

"I've volunteered with the Clinic every year since its inception, and each year I'm reminded of what an incredible asset it is to the Seattle area," said Mike Washington, a Clinic volunteer since 2014. "So many of the people we see are just trying to figure out how to stay healthy when their insurance simply doesn't cover their basic medical needs. The Clinic is more than just a service -- it's a community that volunteering has allowed me to be part of."

Volunteer registration is now open at seattlecenter.org/volunteers. The Clinic’s capacity to serve patients depends on volunteer participation, with an urgent need for volunteers to sign up for morning shifts as well as shifts at any time on Thursday and Sunday.

For more information, visit seattlecenter.org/skcclinic or call 206-684-7200. Help change lives by joining Seattle/King County Clinic—where care, compassion, and community come together.

About Seattle/King County Clinic

Seattle/King County Clinic, a project led by Seattle Center and Seattle Center Foundation, is the largest community-driven health clinic of its kind in the United States. This four-day event unites healthcare organizations, civic agencies, nonprofits, businesses, and thousands of volunteers to deliver free dental, vision, medical, and social services to individuals who face barriers to accessing and affording essential health services.

About Clinic Partners

Several organizations collaborate to produce Seattle/King County Clinic and contribute needed resources and expertise, including:

141 Eyewear · Amazon · AMN Healthcare · APTA Washington · Arcora Foundation · Auston James Photography · Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation · Burkhart Dental Supply · CISC · Climate Pledge Arena · Cornish College of the Arts · DCG ONE · Delta Dental of WA · Dentsply Sirona · FastSigns · Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center · Grousemont Foundation · Gull Industries, Inc. · Henry Schein, Inc. · HOPE Animal-Assisted Crisis Response · Humana · International Community Health Services · Kaiser Permanente · King County Medical Society · King County Nurses Association · KLS Martin LP · Labcorp · Link to Care WA · Lucky Seven Foundation · Mary Mahoney Professional Nurses Organization · Mediterranean Inn · Microsoft · Nashi Immigrants Health Board · National Association of Social Workers - WA Chapter · The Norcliffe Foundation · Oak View Group Hospitality · OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation · Opticians Association of WA · Optometric Physicians of WA · Pacific Office Automation · Patterson Dental · Patterson Foundation · PhenoPath · Philips Healthcare · Project Access Northwest · Public Health – Seattle & King County · Sea Mar Community Health Centers · Seattle Center · Seattle Center Foundation · Seattle Department of Neighborhoods · Seattle Housing Authority · Seattle Information Technology · Seattle-King County Dental Society · Seattle Office of Immigrant & Refugee Affairs · Seattle Police Department · Seattle Roots Community Health · Snohomish County Dental Society & Foundation · T-Mobile · UW Medicine / UW School of Medicine · UW School of Dentistry · Vitalogy Foundation · VOSH Northwest · WA Academy of Eye Physicians & Surgeons · WA Acupuncture & Eastern Medicine Association · WA Association of Naturopathic Physicians · WA Dental Hygienists’ Association · WA Healthcare Access Alliance · WA State Chiropractic Association · WA State Dental Association · WA State Dental Laboratory Association · WA State Department of Health · WA State Nurses Association · WA State Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons · Zeiss

For more information, see Seattle/King County Clinic Partners.

(February 2025)