Mary’s Center celebrated 15 years and still growing strong Friday with a vow to continue helping the minds, bodies and souls of those who depend on it for low-cost health care.
The nonprofit health center welcomes all into its medical and dental clinics and offered vaccines and food during the pandemic. It has been on University Boulevard West in Silver Spring for five years and in the county for 15 years. It also has locations in Adelphi, Adams Morgan, Petworth and Fort Totten.
Future plans include expanding into Cheverly in Prince George’s County.
It annually serves about 65,000 people, who came to this area from 50 different countries. It has a staff of 800 and an annual budget of $96 million.
Access to health care is crucial, said Council President Evan Glass, noting the bus lines that travel along University Boulevard make Mary’s Center accessible.
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin were on hand to thank the center for its work. They announced that their request for a $5 million allocation from the federal government for the center passed an important hurdle Thursday and hopefully soon will be approved.
Dental care in the Silver Spring office is available six days a week, 10 hours a day. On average, 80 patients have their dental needs taken care of each day. The facility’s digital dental lab makes same-day dentures and even toy teeth for its young patients.
Noting that dental care is an urgent need, Richard Gesker, executive vice president of dental services, said he hopes to add more dental chairs at the Silver Spring center and triple the number of its dental chairs throughout its centers.
“The need is great, and the need is growing,” noted Councilmember Gabe Albornoz.
It is important to realize that government money spent at places like Mary’s Center “is an investment not an expenditure,” said County Executive Marc Elrich.
The center actually started 35 years ago in a basement in Adams Morgan in Washington, D.C. It currently offers primary health and dental care for all ages as well as nutrition counseling, family social services, domestic violence support, senior wellness, behavioral health, classes in English classes, digital literacy and parenting and medical assistant job training.
“It’s always inspiring to come to Mary’s Center,” Van Hollen declared.
This morning, Team DHHS celebrated the 15th anniversary of the @MarysCenter being in @MontgomeryCoMD. @MarysCenter is 1 of 2 federally qualified health centers in the county & has been a great partner to DHHS with the Maternity Partnership Program & during the COVID-19 pandemic. pic.twitter.com/SJPiIRYxNF
— Montgomery County DHHS (@MoCoDHHS) July 28, 2023
Friday morning, Mary's Center celebrated 15 years of serving county residents amid plans to keep expanding.@mymcmedia @MarysCenter pic.twitter.com/qByMxrAfTB
— suzanne pollak (@SuzannePollak) July 28, 2023
