Nearly one year ago, the Greater New Bedford Community Health Center opened its doors to provide health care services to what Site Manager Kathleen Minnock called an “underserved population.”

Spreading the word about the center’s mission, however, has been a challenge.

“We’ve found out that people either don’t know that we’re here, or they don’t know what we have to offer,” said Minnock.

To remedy that, the center will host “A Festival of Health and Wellness” at its Wareham site, located at 127 Marion Road, on Aug. 12 from noon to 4 p.m.

In addition to providing information about center services, such as smoking cessation, diabetes education and blood pressure clinics, there will be games, raffles and a live broadcast by WPLM 99.1 FM.

“It’s going to be a festive affair,” said Minnock.

The event coincides with National Health Center Week, which takes place from Aug. 7 - 13. Community health centers receive federal funds, in addition to patient payments, to provide care in areas where people are underserved or uninsured.

Minnock explained that Wareham’s health center has a staff of primary care doctors on site who are currently accepting new patients.

“This is a family practice,” she said. “We take care of everybody from pediatrics to geriatrics.”

Opened last September with help from a $1.4 million federal grant, the center also focuses on providing services to the uninsured and Wareham’s homeless community.

“That’s a big goal of ours. We want to offer the homeless preventative care, help them get insurance and literally connect with them. In the winter, we’re out in the shelters and perform needs assessments for them,” she said.

One of the center’s bigger projects is launching a program for the homeless that gives them a place to go when the shelters close for the day. Minnock said plans include offering services such as getting them a place to shower or do laundry.

Minnock said the center has made inroads with many Wareham organizations to offer services to a cross section of residents.

As a private, nonprofit, the center collaborates with many agencies in town, such as the YMCA, Wareham Public Schools and Southcoast Health.

Upcoming center programs include hosting flu clinics in schools and subsidized housing projects, said Minnock.

Most importantly, she said, the center provides an option for residents who need affordable care.

“Our main goal is to push wellness,” she said. “We want everyone to be healthy.”