Open on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 6 p.m., the clinic operates on a first-come, first-served basis and offers basic physician services and dental care, health and nutrition education and community referrals. Specialty services like dermatology and women's health are provided on a rotating schedule and pharmacy vouchers are available to help fill prescriptions.

"We try really hard here to meet the needs of our clients," Ellis said. "We direct them to the food pantry if they need it, we refer them to housing services and we give them information about Medicaid. This clinic fills a terrible void in our society, and it is an example of charity at its finest in a public setting."

Prior to arriving in the United States five years ago, Carlos, a 35-year-old immigrant from El Salvador, never imagined that he'd need to visit a "free clinic." A computer programmer and former radio disc jockey in his native country, Carlos works at a Logan factory. He fled El Salvador to escape "political turmoil" and unrest after losing his government job. His American "work papers" are not authentic.

Now, Carlos is suffering from stress, anxiety and depression related to his immigration status and the financial instability he faces. His wife and son are still in El Salvador.

"When you are in this country illegally, you don't have access to the full range of health-care services," he said. "I am college educated, and I speak English, but the legislation is very complicated. I'm trying to take care of my situation, but it's very difficult. That is why this clinic is so beautiful. It is all for free, and it's a community effort."

Intermountain Healthcare spokesman Daron Cowley recognizes the importance of his company's commitment to providing services at all socioeconomic levels.

"When we can take care of medical problems earlier, in a clinic setting instead of the ER," he said, "it's a win-win situation. It's better for the patients because they can avoid larger and more expensive problems, and it's better for the system as a whole."

Patients like Carlos understand how the system works. "In the United States of America," he said, "everything goes around money. To come to a place where money doesn't matter, it's like heaven."

E-MAIL: hellojenniferc@msn.com