The Avon Volunteer Fire Department (VFD) was once again transformed into a temporary medical center and dentist’s office on Nov. 21–22, as nearly 40 volunteers from across North Carolina returned to Hatteras Island for the second free dental and medical screening clinic hosted in partnership with Baptists on Mission.
The follow-up event mirrored the successful inaugural clinic held in January, but turnout was even stronger this time, with registration filling almost immediately after the clinic was announced.
Baptists on Mission volunteers arrived from towns across the state—High Point, Salisbury, New Bern, Franklin, the Triangle—and stayed in rental homes coordinated by One Church in Avon, in the fire station itself, and in local accommodations arranged through community connections.
The operation brought two mobile units to the Avon VFD parking lot, including a fully equipped dental bus staffed by two dentists and two hygienists, and a health screening bus run by registered nurses, trained volunteers, and support staff. Inside the firehouse, additional chairs and treatment stations were set up to keep up with the steady flow of patients.
Many residents were already familiar with the clinic from its first visit, and word spread quickly.
“The schedule filled up in about 30–40 minutes,” said KJ Ellington, Pastor of One Church in Avon, as well as a volunteer and resident chaplain of the Avon VFD. “The need is here, and people are excited.”
Throughout the two-day event, dentists worked continuously, while hygienists assisted with cleanings and X-rays. Altogether, the team served around 80 dental patients, with dozens more coming solely for health screenings.
For many islanders, the clinic offered the only realistic opportunity to receive preventive care. Several residents shared that they haven’t visited a doctor in years, either because they lack insurance, lack transportation, or cannot take a full day off work to travel off the island. Those realities were reflected immediately in the steady stream of patients entering the health screening bus throughout the two-day clinic.
Inside the screening bus, patients completed a detailed risk assessment covering cardiovascular disease, blood pressure, diabetes, and depression. When needed, volunteers conducted cholesterol and A1C finger-stick tests. Nurses reviewed each patient’s results privately, explained what the numbers meant, and helped identify options for follow-up care—especially for those without a primary provider.
“The last thing you want to do is say, ‘Well, your diabetes test is a little bit elevated—good luck,’” said registered nurse and volunteer Sheila Prevatte. “If somebody does not have a primary care physician, we give them some advice about how to connect to one.”
Volunteers emphasized that these conversations often revealed needs that go far beyond medical charts. With winter approaching and a difficult storm season behind them—including beach erosion, flooding, and multiple oceanfront home collapses—many residents came in carrying stress and fatigue.
“A lot of people just need to know that somebody sees them—that they’re not invisible,” Prevatte said.
The event also drew pastors from other areas who came to observe the setup and learn how similar clinics might be brought to their home communities.
Pastor Keith Whitfield, who traveled from New Bern, North Carolina, described the visit as both educational and inspiring. “We came to learn and to help, with the eye toward doing something similar in our area,” he said. “It’s an opportunity for us to let people know that we’re here and we love them.”
Pastor John Thompson, from the small town of Rich Square in northeastern North Carolina, explained that his community is facing similar challenges to Hatteras Island. “Our last dentist retired a few years ago,” he said. “People travel an hour or more for care. It’s just like here.”
Because demand was so strong, Baptists on Mission and local organizers are already exploring options to bring the clinic back sooner than next fall.
Discussions included the possibility of holding a spring visit, or even adding additional dental support in the future. “There’s already been talk on the island asking, ‘When are you coming back again?’” said Baptists on Mission’s Medical-Dental Ministry Coordinator Krissy Watson. “And I probably have about five phone calls a week from people asking the same question, from many different communities.”
Watson noted that the need across rural North Carolina continues to outpace what the organization can currently provide. Baptists on Mission operates two dental buses year-round and is nearing completion on a third, which is expected to help expand weekend availability.
Still, demand remains high statewide. “There’s not a lot of places out there that will see people free or at a low cost,” Watson said. “It really breaks the heart when we’re not going to be in someone’s area.”
Even so, Watson said the work remains deeply meaningful. “We can bring hope where there’s a lot of devastation, or just people that are struggling,” she said. “And now’s definitely the time to help.”
Volunteers, organizers, and local partners echoed that sentiment throughout the weekend. The collaboration between Baptists on Mission, the Avon Volunteer Fire Department, and One Church in Avon continues to deepen with each visit, with both practical and emotional impacts felt across the community.
Many expressed confidence that the foundation laid this year will support long-term, recurring clinics on Hatteras Island, giving residents consistent access to the care they need close to home.
The post Dozens receive care as free dental clinic returns to Avon appeared first on Island Free Press.
Add to favoritesCredit: Original content published here.
