NEW ORLEANS -- They came to the Convention Center with no health insurance, but left with peace of mind.
"This is like an early Christmas gift," said Purneller White.
White made the drive down from Baton Rouge, taking the opportunity to get much needed care at a time she feels healthcare costs are unreasonable.
"It's not only paying the doctors and for the tests and the hospital, you also have the medicine that you have to deal with,” White said.
And that's what many of the more than 700 volunteers say compelled them to help. In all, more than 1,000 patients received checkups and treatment, from volunteer doctors like Rani Whitfield.
"We've got 45,000 people in this country who will die because of a lack of access to healthcare,” said Dr. Rani Whitfield, a volunteer at the event.
The event comes at a time when healthcare issues continue grabbing headlines, but Whitfield said the free clinic is all about helping others, and in some cases, saving lives.
"We've found people with advanced breast cancer today, people with hypertension, new onset diabetes, individuals that have warning signs of a stroke,” Whitfield said. “So, we're doing some great things. The doctors here are working hard, and again, nobody is getting paid.
“This is a non-partisan event. It has nothing to do with Republican, Democrat -- we're just trying to take care of patients today."
Men and women who say tackling medical bills would otherwise be impossible.
"Without insurance, you've gotta come out your pocket with it,” said New Orleans resident Kendall Tyler. “It's hell. They're sending your name to credit unions and credit bureaus and everything. So it's hard, real hard."
"22 percent of the Louisiana people do not have insurance, and we're seeing the working poor, individuals that have jobs that just aren't able to afford healthcare and health insurance," Whitfield said.
It's a reason Purneller White said she's grateful for this event, and the people who gave up time and energy to help.
"I am really, really impressed that they have so many people out here that really, really care about the welfare of other people, because they have so many people that would just pass you by."
