The Flying Samaritans
The Flying Samaritans is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing free health care for underserved populations in Baja California, Mexico.
Each branch operates slightly differently, however, all strive to attain the same goal in improving healthcare outcomes for the underserved populations of Baja California.
After a stop in Bahia de Los Angeles, Aileen hit dust storms preventing her from landing in Tijuana or San Diego.
Forced to circle the area avoiding the peaks, they eventually flew over the storm, and decided to land on a strip outside of the El Rosario community.
In El Rosario the general store's proprietor, Anita Espinosa, acted as a translator for the group while giving them accommodations and hot chocolate.
Expanding to over 20 clinic locations in more than 50 years, now the Flying Samaritans has grown to serve many populations like El Rosario across Baja California, Mexico.
Each branch is made up of a unique group of leaders and volunteers that travel to their respective clinics operating under the same mission founded by the original Flying Angels.
The Flying Samaritans at UCLA has a goal to improve the lives of the people in Colonia Margarita Moran by working directly with community leaders and members to address more than just their health needs.
[10][11] In 1999 the Flying Samaritans at UCSD was founded, but it was not until 2001 after much negotiation with the Mexican government that their clinic in Chapultepec, Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico officially opened.
In 2012 President Anelah McGuiness won the Donald A. Strauss Scholarship giving her $10,000 to create a dental clinic for their Flying Samaritans branch.
They travel roughly 3 hours past the United States border to reach their clinic in Eréndira where both dental and medical services are provided to the community.
Operating on the third Saturday of each month, volunteer ophthalmologists, optometrists, and medical assistants travel to their clinic, owned by the Mexican Family Health Department (DIF), in Tecate to provide free surgeries and eye care to as many patients as possible.
Now also providing dental services, as well as, in the past women's clinics run by OB/GYNs, Public Health and physical therapy sessions to assist with daily life activity pains and strengthening.
[16][17][18][19] The La Misión branch of Flying Samaritans was founded in 2019 through a collaboration between Cal Poly Pomona student Shweta Thakur and CSU San Marcos alumni Nicolas Sesno and John Tagulao.
At first operating out of Luis Menjare's family home then moving through various clinics donated by local doctors, the branch is now in the process of building its own facilities.
Bill and Boz French founded the first clinic in El Arco, a remote mining village 25 miles east of Guerro Negro.
[26] The UC Irvine undergraduate branch of the Flying Samaritans operates in El Testerazo, Baja California, Mexico about 30 miles southeast of Tecate.
