Some came to have their cholesterol, hearing or vision checked.

Others wanted dental exams or blood-pressure checks, or pre-kindergarten physicals and immunizations for their children.

Hanshaw Middle School in south Modesto was turned into a giant clinic Saturday for the sixth annual HLC Community Health Fair.

An estimated 1,200 turned out for the free services offered there.

"Many of these people have never been to a doctor before," said Sally Perez, who helped coordinate the health fair for the sponsoring Spanish Leadership Council.

"The fair helps get them plugged into the health care systems," Perez said.

About 35 health care organizations donated supplies, staff and volunteers for everything from chiropractic examinations to mammograms and nutrition-diet counseling.

There were diabetes, cholesterol and blood-pressure screenings; dental, vision and hearing checks; pap smears, breast exams and pregnancy tests. Perez said that in some cases, antibiotics and other medications were dispensed on the spot for people who doctors thought needed them immediately, rather than waiting until they visited an emergency room.

"The main reason for the fair," Perez said, "is to make health services available for those who can't afford them otherwise."

Another is to educate people on where they can go for the various health and community services available to them.