While it took three years to get off the ground, that vision came to fruition when the clinic opened its doors out of a small room inside the nonprofit's former cramped facility on Davis Street.

Now, after a decade of serving the area's neediest with health care services, Davis Street is celebrating the 10-year anniversary of its RotaCare Free Acute Medical Clinic.

The anniversary party, which was held Wednesday evening, also marked the grand opening of the new Dr. Jack Goodrich Free Dental Clinic. The event also recognized Davis Street's many volunteers.

Herman said he always believed giving back to the community was important. He said the clinic teaches people that they have a responsibility to help those that are less fortunate.

"I knew that there were folks in San Leandro who didn't have insurance, were underinsured and had (medical) problems that were not being addressed," he said. "Many people said 'We don't have that problem in San Leandro,' but Rose knew (otherwise)."

Davis Street offers acute medical care to people who are uninsured or underinsured, whose medical insurance doesn't cover all their needs.

The clinic also provides free prescriptions when available. Davis Street buys medicine from local pharmacies at a discount and gives them to patients as needed.

The clinic is an entity of Rotary International, which started the first RotaCare clinic in San Jose. The San Leandro Rotary Club is the local sponsor of this clinic, which offers primary care to adults from 3:45 to 7 p.m. Mondays, children from 3:45 to 7 p.m. Tuesdays and physical therapy from 3 to 6 p.m. Thursdays.

Alameda County Board of Supervisor's Alice Lai-Bitker, who gave Davis Street a commendation for the clinic, announced that she was donating $50,000 in Measure A funds to fully staff a nurse practitioner at the clinic. Mayor Shelia Young also presented Davis Street with a commendation from the city.

Since April 2004, Davis Street has offered "Adult Dental Days" as a series of day clinics leading up to the permanent addition of the free dental program. According to Goodrich, who is also a past Davis Street director, the clinic will offer basic emergency care, basic dentistry, education on dental care and dental screenings.

Davis Street is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to help low-income people living in the Eden Area — San Leandro, San Lorenzo, Castro Valley, Ashland and Cherryland — improve their quality of life through short- and long-term assistance.

As the only multi-service family support agency in the San Leandro-area, Davis Street provides services to more than 10,000 people in need every year.

Programs and services include: low-cost and subsidized child care, emergency food and clothing, acute medical care, crisis counseling, job preparation and placement services, holiday food and toy basket programs, and information and referral.

Davis Street Family Resource Center is located at 3081 Teagarden St. For more information, call (510) 347-4620 or visit the Web site <a href="http://www.davisstreet.org. http://www.davisstreet.org.