Greater Portland Health, a community nonprofit that provides comprehensive primary care services to more than 6,600 patients in the Portland area, is celebrating National Health Center Week from August 7-13 with events and activities for community members.

The purpose of National Health Center Week is to raise awareness about the mission and accomplishments of America’s health centers. Greater Portland Health will participate with events including:

• National Health Care for the Homeless Day – Aug 10, 1-3 p.m. at 63 Preble St.

A hydration stand and healthy snacks will be provided to patients in the front lobby. Community partners are also invited.

• Back-to-School Wellness Fair – Aug 10, 4-6 p.m. at 100 Brick Hill Ave.

Families can meet providers, learn about children’s health issues, learn stress management tools for the whole family, and set up an appointment. Healthy snacks will be provided.

Community health centers not only prevent illness and foster wellness in populations that might otherwise lack access, but they also reach beyond the walls of conventional medicine to address other factors contributing to sickness, including lack of nutrition, mental illness, homelessness and addiction. Because of their long record of innovation and success in managing healthcare costs and reducing chronic disease, leaders in Congress have declared health centers a model of care that offers a “bipartisan solution to the primary care access problems” facing our nation.

As a community health center, Greater Portland Health provides primary medical care for everyone, regardless of age, gender or ability to pay. Services include primary medical care, mental health counseling, treatment for substance abuse, preventive dental care, vision care and chronic disease management.

To learn more about National Health Center Week and the listing of nationwide events, please visit www.healthcenterweek.org.