Celebrating Partnership, Community, and Resilience: A Special Visit from Abbott and Direct Relief

This past Monday marked a deeply meaningful moment for our BCHS team as we welcomed representatives from two of our most valued partners, Abbott and Direct Relief, for a special visit to the Lower Ninth Ward. As we approach the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, this visit carried particular weight. Katrina’s devastation was the catalyst for both the founding of BCHS and the beginning of Direct Relief’s U.S. operations, and the day gave us a powerful opportunity to reflect on how far we’ve come and where we’re going next.

Together with our special guests, we toured the neighborhoods and communities we serve daily – places that were once left without even basic access to primary care in the storm’s aftermath. Thanks to the generosity and long-term commitment of Abbott and Direct Relief, we’ve been able to grow our services in these areas, increase access to care, strengthen our infrastructure, and remain deeply rooted in our communities in a meaningful way.

The highlight of the day was a community celebration hosted at the VIET Center in Michoud/New Orleans East, where Abbott and Direct Relief got to see their generosity in action through one of our brand-new mobile care units. This vehicle, made possible through Abbott and Direct Relief’s Disaster Resiliency Grants, will allow us to bring critical health services including dental, behavioral health, and primary care directly to neighborhoods across the region both on a daily basis and in times of crisis and disaster.

At the event, we were thrilled to offer free pediatric dental screenings to local families serving 30 children in total. We extend a special thanks to Dr. Sterling from LSU School of Dentistry for providing such compassionate and excellent care to our young patients.

And what’s a community event without some fun? With snoballs, games, and sunshine, we celebrated not just a new mobile unit, but also the strength and spirit of our community. We’re incredibly grateful to The Church in Michoud and Emmanuel Baptist Church from Ruston, LA for helping spread the word, organize activities, and ensure every child had a great time. Their volunteers brought joy and energy that made the day extra special.

To our partners at Abbott and Direct Relief: thank you again from the bottom of our hearts. Your vision, compassion, and investment in our mission continue to transform lives and improve health outcomes where they are needed most. Monday’s event was a reminder of what’s possible when mission-driven organizations come together with community at the center.