EATONVILLE, Fla. — Eatonville residents gained access to critical healthcare services this week as Grace Medical Home, a nonprofit organization, partnered with local groups to host a community health event.
The initiative, supported by a $50,000 grant from the Winter Park Health Foundation, aims to address the town’s lack of medical providers by offering free screenings and resources.
The event featured Grace Medical Home’s mobile medical unit, a fully equipped clinic on wheels designed to serve uninsured residents. With two exam rooms and a waiting area, the unit provides primary care services and connects patients with long-term healthcare options.
Betsy Culpepper, the nonprofit’s community engagement director, highlighted the importance of the program, noting that more than 160,000 individuals in Orange County are uninsured.
“Many people work multiple part-time jobs that don’t offer benefits,” Culpepper said. “They’re trying to keep a roof over their head and food on the table, so healthcare often gets pushed aside.”
Eatonville, a historically Black town, is considered a medical desert, meaning it has no permanent medical facilities. To bridge this gap, Grace Medical Home has partnered with the Central Florida Black Nurses Association to provide ongoing healthcare access.
“This partnership is unique because the Black Nurses Association brings deep knowledge of the community’s needs, and we bring the medical resources,” said Culpepper.
Constance Brown, a grant administrator with the Black Nurses Association, said many residents are struggling with healthcare access due to job losses and lack of insurance.
“We canvassed the neighborhood, and people told us they’re losing jobs and don’t have insurance,” Brown said. “As nurses, we collaborate with partners to make sure these services reach the community.”
The mobile medical unit travels throughout Central Florida, spending about two weeks in each community it serves. During this event, both insured and uninsured patients received free screenings and food distribution. Organizers hope initiatives like this will help close the healthcare gap for Eatonville residents.
