Where Purpose Meets The Road  

Movement matters in Kern County, especially when care depends on it. This month, Les Schwab Tire Center donated six new tires to Adventist Health Bakersfield’s Children’s Mobile Immunization Program, a clinic that brings vaccines and hemoglobin testing directly into neighborhoods where access is limited. This gift helped this trusted program’s momentum continue with consistency, reliability, and purpose, bringing care where it’s needed most.

Our work in philanthropy is to stand at the intersection of the sacred care our teams provide and the community that believes in its worth. That is where we build. Some contributions are rooted in generosity, offered by those who want to give back. Others are grounded in alignment, made by those who see the work and choose to stand alongside it. The gift from Les Schwab Tire Center embodied both. It was a practical investment in continued access to care, made with intention and trust.

In Kern County, one in eight children begins kindergarten without being fully immunized. That is not just a number. It is a reminder that access still matters. Meeting families where they are is not just a goal. It is a responsibility.

The Children’s Mobile Immunization Program was created to reach families who have long been underserved. It was built to close the gap for those who face barriers that too often keep routine care out of reach. The cost of care, travel time, and the strain of navigating the system are the challenges that continue to hinder families’ access to care. This program exists to meet families where they are.

Out of more than 400 applicants, our program was selected to receive new tires through Les Schwab Tire Center’s community donation initiative.

“Being selected to receive new tires for our mobile clinic felt like an answered prayer,” said Lucy Mata, Practice Manager for Outpatient Services. “They keep us on the road and allow us to focus our resources where they matter most… on patient care.”

With support from First 5 Kern and now Les Schwab Tire Center, the mobile unit continues to deliver vaccines and essential services across Kern County. The donation helped the team extend access to care while staying focused on the children and families who rely on them most.

Since 2019, the unit has delivered more than 16,500 vaccinations each year across Kern County. That number reflects more than coverage. It reflects trust. Families return because they remember who showed up. They remember what it felt like to be seen.

Thanks to Les Schwab Tire Center and the mobile health team that continues to show up with purpose, this work keeps moving. It reaches the neighborhoods others might overlook and brings care to families who deserve to be seen. When mission turns into movement and support meets intention, access becomes real. That is what it looks like when purpose hits the pavement and keeps going.

Want to know where the mobile unit is headed next? Visit AdventistHealth.org/Bakersfield or call 661-869-6740 for the latest schedule and resources.