Focus on details may make free health clinic go smoothly in Bradenton
MANATEE -- Organizers of this Saturday and Sunday's huge, free medical clinic at Manatee Technical College left no stone unturned in the quest to stage a successful event.
Months ago, Dr. Richard Conard, who helped bring this weekend's free Remote Area Medical clinic to Manatee County with the help of resident Glen Gilbellina, went to The Salvation Army of Manatee County to request roughly 3,000 free lunches for patients.
"When we were approached by Dr. Conard we realized this was a natural fit for us," Maj. Dwayne Durham of the Salvation Army of Manatee County said Tuesday. "I don't think they do this at all RAM events but Dr. Conard's main concern was for the people. He was
worried they would be in line from near midnight Friday and be ready for some food on Saturday morning."
On Friday morning, Salvation Army volunteers will be preparing 3,000 bagged lunches for patients, each with a freshly cooked hot dog, bag of chips or crackers, granola bar and an apple.
On Saturday, those goody bags will each get a freshly cooked hot dog made at the Army's mobile canteen on site at MTC.
"Blake Medical Center came through with 2,000 apples and 2,000 granola bars," said Christine Smith of the Salvation Army. "RAM donated the hot dogs."
The Army meals are a part of a complex behind-the-scenes operation, local officials hope, will conclude with a few thousand Manatee County underinsured or noninsured residents getting needed medical help by the end of the weekend.
The patients can get eye exams and free eyeglasses, dental cleanings and extractions, free glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy testing, free breast exams, diabetes screenings, physicals and women's health exams.
The behind-the scenes work over the next few days involves making signs, setting up tents and portable toilets, unloading trucks, setting up medical stations in MTC hallways, bringing in water and countless other activities, said Doug Schiller of the Palmetto Rotary and event coordinator.
The clinic signed up roughly 700 local volunteers, including many medical professionals.
Schiller, who is semi-retired, is known in Manatee County for coordinating road races. This is on an even larger scale although Schiller doesn't yet know how large it will be.
"We really don't know how many patients will show up," Schiller said. "It will be between 700 and 7,000. My guess is 1,000. But I really don't have a clue. This is our first one."
The Manatee County Sheriff's Office will be at MTC Friday night when patients are expected to start showing up around midnight, Schiller said.
Deputies will not allow traffic to back up onto State Road 70.
"We are prepared to open the campus after midnight Saturday morning if there is a line on State Road 70," Schiller said.
Patients have been instructed to arrive around midnight and tickets will be handed out at 3 a.m. for the first day, said Doug Wagner, head of MTC.
If only 700 show up it won't be for a lack of advertising.
"We printed close to 40,000 brochures in English and Spanish and distributed them all over the community," Schiller said.
"Bright House TV is running 500 public service announcements on their station over the next two days."
Richard Dymond, Herald reporter, can be reached at 941-745-7072 or contact him via Twitter@RichardDymond.
This story was originally published November 17, 2015 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Focus on details may make free health clinic go smoothly in Bradenton ."