The Interfaith Coalition of Whatcom County is hosting a benefit dinner at 7 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 20, at the Bellingham Golf & Country Club, to raise money to support the sliding-scale fee structure that makes medical, dental and behavioral-health care accessible and affordable to uninsured patients at Interfaith Community Health Center’s Bellingham and Ferndale sites.

 The cost for the dinner is $135 per person. To make reservations, call Interfaith Coalition at 360-734-3983.

Last year, the organization provided care to more than 14,000 adults and children. Since 2008, the number of patients seeking care at Interfaith Community Health Center has grown by 25 percent or 2,700 patients. Eighty percent of them have no medical insurance.

In the next two years, another 3,500 people are expected to receive their health care at Interfaith’s recently renovated health center.