"I've had people come up to me on the street in business suits and say thank you for the help we gave them years ago," he says.
And, Melchiono says, the trust must begin with the informal relationship that develops between the volunteers and the teenagers they see on a regular basis.
A girl steps tentatively into the van, saying that she thinks something might be wrong with her leg. As Melchiono leads her into the back room of the van, her friends begin to dance playfully outside, a further sign of their comfort with the volunteers.
"Why are you dancing out there?" Perella asks one of the boys.
"I'm not dancing," the boy answers jokingly. "I'm an actor."
They continue dancing and talking until their friend is ready to leave.
This sort of casual, comfortable relationship has allowed the free medical van to become a welcome fixture in Harvard Square. And for some, the van's nightly hour-long visit is an essential part of their routine.
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