Clinica Sierra Vista Draws Hundreds to Free Halloween Gathering in Kern County
The clinic organized the Oct. 25 event to offer families free activities and connect them with local services as it marks its 55th anniversary.
By Ana Castro ·
Community groups and families converged on a southwest Bakersfield parking lot on Sunday, Oct. 25, for a free Trunk-or-Treat gathering organized by Clinica Sierra Vista. Visitors waited in a line that circled the lot as volunteers handed out candy from decorated vehicle trunks.
Clinica Sierra Vista CEO Dr. Olga Meave said the clinic chose to host the afternoon without charging admission because many households are working through tight budgets. "I think you know the situation is not easy for anybody so when we have an opportunity to provide something free for the community. We take it," Meave said. The clinic is marking its 55th year in operation.
Alongside the candy distribution, organizations from across Kern County used the event to tell residents what programs they can access. Hannah Weightman, who works with the Community Action Partnership of Kern, set up a Hocus Pocus display in her trunk and spoke with attendees about available assistance. "I love being able to communicate with the community and show them that what services we have available because a lot of people they don't know what services are available to them," Weightman said.
Jamie Lujan, a grandmother attending with relatives, said the zero cost meant she could bring everyone along. "It's most definitely a help out when you get to bring the whole family and not worry about what the amount is or if we're going to be able to stay or if they're gonna want something that we can't get them," Lujan said. The gathering took place five days before Halloween.
The source account did not give a precise attendance figure for the event, describing the turnout only as hundreds of people.
