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HHC’s 2025 Medical Mission Delivers Vital Services

December 11, 2025

On Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025, Hartford HealthCare mobilized more than 2,800 volunteers across the state to bring its annual “Medical Mission” to communities in need — offering free medical care and essential services at seven sites across Connecticut.

The event — a hallmark of HHC’s commitment to health equity and community access — provided medical screenings, behavioral health checks, vaccinations, lab tests, and follow-up referrals, regardless of insurance status. In addition, volunteers distributed essential items, such as winter clothing, glasses and other necessities, helping to meet both health and basic-needs gaps.

From small beginnings to statewide reach

The “Medical Mission” began in 2015 at St. Vincent’s Medical Center in Bridgeport. After that hospital became part of Hartford HealthCare in 2019, the program gradually expanded beyond a single location. The 2025 mission included HHC’s entire acute-care network and provided services to more than 3,000 people at seven locations.

More than medicine — a commitment to dignity and access

HHC leaders say the Medical Mission is about more than health care. It’s an expression of the organization’s purpose: to ensure “no community is left behind,” and to meet people where they are. The day includes not only clinical services, but also distribution of winter coats, boots, clothes, glasses and food, as well as haircuts and foot washing in some locations — addressing practical needs while reducing barriers to care.

For many attendees, the event offers more than one-time help. According to HHC colleagues, some participants were referred for follow-up care; in prior years, volunteers identified serious health issues that merited immediate attention, demonstrating the role of the mission in bridging care gaps otherwise left unmet.