Every summer, Whittier Street Health Center joins over 1,300 community health centers across the country in celebrating National Health Center Week. Observed annually during the first week of August, National Health Center Week (NHCW) was first established in 1987 by the National Association of Community Health Centers to highlight the excellence of health centers in delivering cost-free and cost-reduced comprehensive care to underserved populations. First born out of the social justice movements of the 1960s, community-based health centers have served for decades as trusted providers of primary and specialty care for predominantly low-income, uninsured, or underinsured individuals from diverse backgrounds. The theme of NHCW 2025, “Celebrating 60 Years of Progress,” honors the tremendous strides health centers have made in expanding access to care and addressing the social determinants of health by working to reduce racial, ethnic, gender-based, and place-based health disparities.

Whittier is proud to be a part of this enduring legacy and is excited to commemorate NHCW with the following activities, workshops, and events, taking place from August 4^th to August 8^th, 2025:

• Monday 08/04, 10am-12pm: Meet the Whittier Fitness Center Team – Whittier’s state of the art Fitness Center – Ground floor (3-day passes available)
• Tuesday 08/05, 10am-12pm: Meet the Moms Do Care Team- addressing substance use disorders and mental wellness
• Wednesday 08/06, 10am-12pm: Meet the Community Health Outreach Team and Women Infant and Children Team (WIC- Nutrition support)
• Friday 08/08, 2pm-6pm: Back to School BBQ: backpacks and school supplies for Whittier’s patients under age 18!

National Health Center Week wraps up with a favorite Whittier annual tradition—our Back to School BBQ on August 8th! This community event distributes free backpacks and school supplies to children under the age of 18, and brings our patients together to send off the summer and ring in the new school year. Please note that parents and guardians must be accompanied by their child(ren) in order to receive school supplies. Remember to save the date and join us from 2 P.M. to 6 P.M. for a backpack giveaway, cookout, and celebration of school spirit!

All are invited to join us for this year’s NHCW festivities as we shine a light on our incredible patients and staff, showcase our wide range of health and social services, and celebrate our mission to provide high-quality, accessible, and affordable care to Boston’s most vulnerable communities. For more information, please contact events@wshc.org. To register your child for the backpack giveaway, please call (617) 989-3211 or (617) 989-3036.