People arrived at the Erie Center for Arts and Technology hours before sunrise, as early as 3 a.m., hoping to secure a spot for free medical, dental, and vision care through Remote Area Medical, or RAM.
The long wait was worth it for people who may not otherwise have access to the care they need. From waiting in the parking lot to eventually taking their turns inside the clinic, patients came from near and far for services provided at no cost.
Brad Sands, a core volunteer with RAM, said the organization works to help people who may not otherwise be able to afford or access care.
“Many of these people don’t have access, or maybe they can’t afford the access they do have, and that’s where we come in. We try to bridge that gap, give these people the care they desperately need and do it free of charge.”
Remote Area Medical provides free dental, vision and medical services to people across the country. During this weekend’s clinic, dental care was in especially high demand, followed closely by vision services. According to Sands, “The first service to expand their spots today was dental, closely followed by vision. But I would say dental has been the highest in demand so far.”
One of the new services offered this year was the opportunity for patients to receive dentures. Michael McCloud traveled all the way from Reading, Pennsylvania, to get dental care.
“You are embarrassed when you don’t have your teeth. Also, for health reasons, you need your teeth, so getting them free is very important,” McCloud said.
RAM brought its mobile denture lab to Erie this year, allowing volunteers to 3-D print dentures for patients.
“We are able to bring out our mobile denture lab and 3-D print some dentures this weekend and give some folks some brand-new teeth”, explained Sands.
After receiving help himself, McCloud decided he wanted to give back. He arrived Wednesday morning, expecting a large crowd, and ended up volunteering while he waited, “I came on Wednesday morning because I thought it was going to be a large crowd, so when I slept in the car overnight, in the morning I said, I’m not just going to stand around. I might as well volunteer.”
RAM volunteers said McCloud isn’t the first patient to become a volunteer.
“There were people in the parking lot that actually beat us here by a day or two, and they were so excited to be here as patients that they turned into volunteers. So, they helped us set up yesterday”, said Reagan Monday, a volunteer coordinator.
Volunteers said the days can be long, but seeing the difference they make in people’s lives makes it worthwhile.
Monday said the need for affordable health care exists everywhere, “We have barriers everywhere, which is an unfortunate reality, but the need is everywhere. It doesn’t discriminate. Rural, city, it happens everywhere, every state.”
Students from LECOM’s dental school helped provide dental care during the first day of the clinic. Students from the University of Pittsburgh will assist on the second day.
The clinic begins at 6 a.m. on Sunday. People can begin lining up at midnight to receive a ticket.