On the morning of December 20, a Tzu Chi mobile dental clinic drove into Monrovia, California, and parked in front of Foothills Kitchen, a small nonprofit that has long provided meals to people in need in the basement of a church—directly across from Tzu Chi Great Love Preschool Monrovia.
The Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation brought the clinic straight into the community, offering dental exams and cleanings to more than 60 Foothills Kitchen “guests” from low-income families and among people experiencing homelessness. It was also a first step toward adding eye exams and eyeglass services in the future.‑income families and among people experiencing homelessness. It was also a first step toward adding eye exams and eyeglass services in the future.
LEFT: At dawn on December 20, the Tzu Chi Mobile Dental Clinic arrives at Foothills Kitchen to provide free dental care to more than sixty unhoused people. RIGHT: The mobile clinic slowly enters Monrovia, California, and parks in front of Foothills Kitchen, which has long served vulnerable neighbors. | Photos: Tzu Chi USA
Eleven and a half years of compassionate service
Before the mobile clinic arrived, Foothills Kitchen had already served the community from this basement for over eleven years.
Co‑founder Carol Daley shared, "We started in 2014, so it’s been 11.5 years. We’re open every Saturday, serving homemade meals. We don’t take corporate funding and rely on word of mouth. Now we serve about 65 to 107 guests each week.
As federal benefits shrink, she sees more new faces and greater instability: “Every week I see about six new guests. We don’t just provide food, but also clothing, tents, sleeping bags, and hygiene supplies. Most simply cannot afford housing.”
She realized many basic needs still go unmet. Dental and vision problems are often postponed:
At least half the people here are homeless. Many just cannot care for their teeth.—Carol Daley, Co‑founder of Foothills Kitchen
When pain hits, treatment feels urgent, but preventive care like cleanings is the first to go when money is short. One woman told her she and her husband had not seen a dentist in more than two years because they could not afford it. Such stories made Carol especially eager to work with the mobile clinic.
Bringing health care where it’s needed
For this reason, Tzu Chi brought the mobile dental clinic directly to Foothills Kitchen.
“This is where they come every Saturday for meals,” said coordinator Clarence Yau. “Instead of asking them to make appointments and travel, we bring the care here.”
He added that this lowers barriers: getting to a clinic is hard, but here they can receive basic care without pressure. Over time, the curb where the clinic parks has become a place where people feel comfortable coming in for treatment.
LEFT: Dental Clinic Coordinator Clarence Yau (left) registers guests for dental care. RIGHT: Volunteers’ caring warmth helps guests in difficult situations smile again. | Photos: Tzu Chi USA
Dental care and the chance to smile again
Inside the clinic, routine appointments were rare chances for many guests.
Cancer survivor Ray Tatro felt fortunate to be there; he hadn’t known dental and vision care was available. After recent eye‑removal surgery covered by insurance—treatment he could not have afforded himself—he said the help had changed his life. Dental problems, he added, affect daily living, and the chance to smile freely again felt almost unbelievable.
Another guest, Alfred Landeros, had come mainly for a meal. Hearing there was a visiting dentist, he decided to try. Money was tight, but he knew he needed care. He found the staff friendly and said he would recommend the service to friends as a way to save money and address dental issues.
LEFT: A dentist provides much‑needed dental treatment for a guest. RIGHT: Foothills Kitchen volunteers decorate the dining area with a warm, festive atmosphere. | Photos: Tzu Chi USA
Medical care moves closer to daily life
While the dental clinic operated outside, Foothills Kitchen’s usual work continued downstairs.
Volunteer Ray Sebastian pointed to the storeroom: “This is our main food storage. Almost all the food we serve on Saturdays comes from here. These freezers and supplies are the backbone of what we do.” That day, volunteers also played guitar and sang softly as people gathered.
Outside, guests waited for dental care; inside, the smell of hot food filled the basement. Medical care and community companionship met in the same space.
By day’s end, the mobile clinic had completed a full round of free care, and the neighborhood had seen a new possibility: when services go where people already gather, like Foothills Kitchen, care no longer feels distant but reachable for those who might otherwise go without.
Written by Mei‑Chen Chien (錢美臻)
Translated by Mindy Chen (陳敏理)
