Church members gather for health-care meeting

-- Jennifer Kho

SANTA ANA -- Members of more than 14 Orange County churches are coming

together today to discuss health-care needs for working families.

The Orange County Congregation Community Organization, a faith-based

nonprofit group, has organized the town hall meeting, which is scheduled

to begin at 7:30 p.m. at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, 1100 Center

St., Santa Ana.

“It is very important that we have health-care insurance access for

working families,” said Paty Madueno, a member of St. Joachim Church and

a Costa Mesa resident.

Alma Vergara, community organizer for the nonprofit group, said about

60% of the congregations lack health insurance.

St. Joachim Church in Costa Mesa has the largest congregation

represented by the organization, Vergara added.

Expected to attend are State Sen. Joe Dunn (D-Santa Ana); Julie

Poulson, interim director of the Orange County Health Care Agency; Grew

Parry, representative for Hoag Hospital; and Maya Dunne, representative

for the St. Joseph Health System.

The organization is lobbying to obtain health advocates and nurses for

its members, to help organize more nonprofit community clinics and to

help more community members get health insurance.

For more information, call (714) 491-0771.