Lestonnac In The Media

Orange County will soon be home to the first free surgery center in the nation.

The Lestonnac Free Clinic, which has been providing free healthcare to low-income and uninsured residents since 1979, is close to finishing the renovation of its 4,000-square-foot Orange facility into a surgical center.

Once completed, the center will perform a host of essential, non-life-threatening procedures such as hernia repairs and cataract surgeries—all free of charge, regardless of residency or health insurance coverage.

“When they get a surgery done, it’ll be a zero copay,” Executive Director Edward Gerber told the Business Journal. “We’re very excited and want this to be a model for other free clinics in the nation to show that it’s possible.”

Los Angeles, Calif. (FOX11) – Hal Eisner is joined by Edward Gerber, the Executive Director of Lestonnac Free Clinic discusses the surgery center the clinic is building.  It’s the only surgery center in a free clinic in the United States.

Gerber talks about the desperate need for the surgery center, as there isn’t a county hospital in Orange County, so people without insurance or underinsured often go without care.

ORANGE, Calif. (KABC) -- A free medical clinic in Orange County will soon provide surgery for its patients at no cost.

It may not look like much now, but a 4,000-square-foot space in the city of Orange will soon transform into a state-of-the-art surgery center, helping those in the community who need it most.

"We expect this to save lives," said Edward Gerber, executive director at Lestonnac Free Clinic.

The clinic has been providing care for the uninsured since 1979. It offers free primary health care services, dental, vision care and more.

Now, it's the first free clinic in the country to build a surgery center.

Free medical clinics for persons in need will be offered in Fontana on a regular basis.

DignityHealth - Community Hospital of San Bernardino is teaming up with the Lestonnac Free Clinic to host monthly medical clinics that provide complimentary services for diabetes, hypertension, and primary care for uninsured adults.

The clinics will take place on the first and third Thursday of each month from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 17080 Arrow Boulevard in Fontana. The church’s phone number is (909) 822-0566.

Community Hospital of San Bernardino has teamed up with Lestonnac Free Clinic to offer free medical clinics once or twice a month in Fontana, Banning and San Bernardino.

The clinics provide services for people with diabetes and hypertension (high blood pressure) and primary care services for uninsured adults, according to a news release.

In Fontana, the free clinics are offered 10 a.m.-1 p.m. the first and third Thursday of the month at St. Joseph Church, 17080 Arrow Blvd. For information about the Fontana clinics, call St. Joseph Church at 909-822-0566

ORANGE, Calif. (KABC) -- Free surgeries are on the way to Orange County. On Wednesday, instead of a groundbreaking, it was a wall-breaking ceremony with sledgehammers tearing down a wall with text that read "Barriers to Healthcare." The nonprofit Lestonnac Free Clinic in the city of Orange will be renovating a space for a free surgery center.

"Today has been an amazing day. First start of a free surgery. Something that has not occurred in the United States to this day. This is amazing to have the opportunity to be able to finish a project that helps people get to the end of a disease," said Edward Gerber, Executive Director at Lestonnac Free Clinic.

Lestonnac provides free eye exams and prescription glasses in collaboration with Western Optometry and Dignity Health, once a month in San Bernardino. A patient’s glasses are made on site allowing them to leave same-day with their new prescription.

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On Friday April 1st, 2022 Lestonnac Free Clinic’s mobile clinic transport truck had its catalytic converter stolen. All at Lestonnac are saddened by the thought that individuals in our community would commit such acts. The vehicle mentioned is indispensable in providing care to low-income and uninsured community members through Lestonnac’s mobile clinic program.

MELBOURNE, Fla. – July 23, 2021 – Christian Care Ministry announced their commitment to provide a mobile medical to serve 2,000 uninsured residents annually through the Lestonnac Free Clinic, a Volunteers in Medicine America clinic. Christian Care Ministry also relieved 2.5M in medical debt for area residents with a donation through Missions.me.

EPOCH TIMES By: John Fredericks June 26th, 2021

ORANGE, Calif.—Having seen more than one million patients since opening 40 years ago, the Lestonnac Free Clinic continues to find new ways to help financially stricken individuals at no cost to taxpayers.

EPOCH TIMES By: John Fredericks April 10th, 2021

ORANGE, Calif.—Twenty years ago, Israel Zuniga, 39, was asleep in bed when he experienced an event that would change his life forever: his first seizure.

EPOCH TIMES By: John Fredericks March 18th, 2021

ORANGE, Calif.—A free health clinic in the city of Orange has expanded its medical services for uninsured and low-income residents to include COVID-19 vaccinations, making it easier for them to get the shot if they desire.

OC BREEZE April 18th, 2020

As a community, it is crucial that we come together to help those most vulnerable during the current and future challenges presented by the COVID-19 crisis. Lestonnac Free Clinic is helping to minimize the spread of COVID-19 by preventing patients from overwhelming our local hospitals. Our doors will continue to remain open to see patients in need of medical care NOT related to COVID-19.