UPDATE (Saturday 9/18):
On Saturday, a non-profit paid Chattanooga its first visit since the pandemic began, and helped give over 100 patients the gift of vision.
The Remote Area Medical Clinic offered free glaucoma tests, vision screenings, and glasses in East Chattanooga.
Dellington Rice says he got to the clinic at 4:30 in the morning, and didn't leave until almost 5 in the afternoon.
But he says the long wait was well worth it for a new pair of glasses.
"I take them off and I can't hardly see you," Rice said about his new pair of glasses. "I knew that I needed to go to the eye doctor, but something always came up."
Sandra Sacco has been volunteering with the medical clinic for several years.
"I get to come in here and I get to watch these patients who can't see, who've gone for years without knowing there's help out there. They finally realize there is, they come in here and they walk out and their eyes are shining," Sacco said. "I do it because of the look in their eyes when they can finally see across the room."
ORIGINAL (Friday 9/17):
Changing life through a lens.
The Remote Area Medical Clinic is doing just that.
Remote Area Medical (RAM), a non-profit provider of free pop-up clinics, will be paying Chattanooga a visit on Saturday, September 18th.
RAM has visited our viewing area before, including at locations in Cleveland and Rhea County, but this is the first time in recent years it will be in Chattanooga.
This go around, people can get their eyes checked, get a glaucoma test, get a prescription for eyeglasses, and even have eyeglasses made on site.
"I do expect a high turnout," said Audra Fitzgerald, RAM's Clinic Coordinator.
Fitzgerald says their services are always in high demand.
Before COVID-19 was on the world radar, lines of people often camped out overnight at the chance to get RAM's free medical care.
Now, there are added pandemic pressures.
"Because of the pandemic, they see fewer patients, there's limited availability. All of those barriers definitely play a factor in the community," said Fitzgerald.
Saturday's clinic is highly anticipated, to say the least.
RAM hasn't been able to make a pit stop in Chattanooga since the pandemic began.
"We did have cancellations on part of the community, just for safety reasons and precautions. We also needed to revise our own covid-19 precautions and we've been doing that for a while now," said Fitzgerald.
According to VSP Vision Care, the average cost for a pair of frames and lenses is over $350 without vision insurance.
Ralph Mann knows all too well many families can't afford that, especially now.
This is his fourth time volunteering with RAM.
"Some of them might have gone blind had they not been tested. It's been said that there's no such thing as a selfless act. What I give, I get back double and I think we all know that," said Mann.
Dozens of volunteers will be at Hope for the Inner City bright and early Saturday at 6:00 a.m.
There's no hard stop because the need is so great.
"There's access problems in areas across the nation to quality health care and we're just here to fill that gap," said Fitzgerald.
Here are the details:
- Where: Hope for the Inner City at 1800 Roanoke Avenue
- When: Saturday, September 18th. Doors open at 6:00 a.m. The patient parking lot will open no earlier than 4:00 a.m.
- Patients are encouraged to arrive as early as possible.
- This RAM clinic is for vision only. No dental or medical services will be provided at this clinic.
- Patients will be screened for COVID-19 symptoms before they're allowed in.