Hope on Hatteras

Meeting Medical and Dental Needs in Isolated Avon, NC

Tucked between the wild Atlantic waves and the peaceful Pamlico Sound, the small village of Avon, North Carolina, lies quietly on Hatteras Island. With a population of just around 800 year-round residents, Avon is part of the remote Outer Banks—a string of barrier islands that rely heavily on tourism and coastal living.

From Memorial Day to Labor Day, this sleepy village transforms into a buzzing summer haven, welcoming thousands of visitors who come to fish, sunbathe, surf, and enjoy the area’s natural beauty. But when the tourists leave and the beaches are empty, Avon returns to a much quieter life. In the off-season, much of the town shuts down, leaving only essential businesses open: a grocery store, a gas station, a hardware store, and a few local eateries.

For those who call Avon home year-round, the slower pace is welcome, but it comes with challenges—chief among them, access to medical and dental care.

A Health Crisis in a Remote Place

With limited employment opportunities outside the tourist season, many Avon residents struggle to maintain year-round income and insurance. The nearest comprehensive healthcare facilities are hours away on the mainland, and the trip isn’t always guaranteed. During storms or high tides, the single lifeline to the mainland—Highway 12—is often impassable due to overwash or bridge closures.

“In a place like Avon, people can feel forgotten,” says Pastor KJ Ellington of One Church Avon. “There just aren’t enough resources, and the ones we do have are difficult to access or afford.”

A Church on a Mission

One Church Avon, a NC Baptist Church plant led by Pastor Ellington, is working to change that narrative. Over the past two years, Ellington and his family have partnered with Baptist on Missions Dental Ministry to provide services to the neighboring island of Ocracoke. This January, they took things a step further, organizing an unprecedented two-day clinic in Avon itself.

From January 17 to 18, the Avon Fire Department served as a temporary medical hub, hosting 29 volunteers from across the state—including dentists, dental hygienists, nurses, a nutritionist, an ophthalmologist, dental students, and support staff—who came together to offer essential health services free of charge.

“This was like an overseas mission trip, but we were just over the sound,” one volunteer said, emphasizing the sense of purpose and unity felt by all involved.

The Dental and Health Screening buses parked out front offered services ranging from dental cleanings and fillings to screenings for hypertension, A1C, cholesterol, depression, and vision. In just two days, the team saw 75 patients— residents who otherwise might have gone months, even years, without care.

One patient who suffered an eye injury shortly before the clinic was personally driven to a hospital over an hour away by a retired eye doctor who had volunteered his time. For many, this kind of compassion was just as healing as the medical care itself.

More than Medicine

The Avon Fire Department, under the leadership of Chief Frankie Hopkins, generously opened its doors to the effort. Volunteers slept in the upstairs apartments, used the station’s kitchen for meals, and converted every available space into areas for treatment, registration, kids’ activities, and quiet moments of connection.

Registered dental hygienist and author Becky Moore reflected on the experience:

“Serving in Avon, NC with Baptists on Mission Dental Ministry was more than providing dentistry—it was sharing God’s love. The hope, smiles, new friendships, and presence of God reminded me that true service comes from the heart.”

The community felt that love deeply. One local man, touched by the care and attention he received, gave his life to Christ just weeks after the event.

A Return with Greater Purpose

The Dental and Health Screening buses are already planning a return trip to Avon this November. While the amount of physical needs was eye-opening, volunteers were even more moved by the depth of spiritual need within the community. One NC native who came to the clinic revealed he had never owned a Bible and had only been to church a handful of times in his life.

“This is why we do what we do, Carol Carter, Dental bus driver shared. “We meet the physical needs first, as we tell the Good News—with the hope that all will come to know and worship the name of Jesus.”

For Avon, a town nestled between storm and sea, this outreach was more than a clinic—it was a beacon of hope and a promise that they are not alone. One Church Avon continues to love and serve their neighbors with the same passion and purpose, holding Sunday evening services at 5:30 p.m. in the Avon Fire Station.

“As a church in a small, isolated community, this ministry has reminded us that we matter,” says Ellington. “We’re grateful for the support of Baptists on Mission and all who made this outreach possible.”

You can also host the Dental and Health screening buses at your church or in your community, to provide relief for today and hope for tomorrow.