Remote Area Medical will offer free medical, dental and vision services on Oct. 13-14 at Manatee Technical College

MANATEE COUNTY — Organizers of a free medical clinic this fall in Bradenton, expected to attract about 1,000 patients, still need volunteers.

The fourth annual Remote Area Medical on Oct. 13-14 will offer free medical, dental and vision care. No insurance, medical records or proof of citizenship is required.

About 40 staff members and volunteers with the RAM organization from Rockford, Tenn., will again set up at Manatee Technical College, 6305 State Road 70, Bradenton.

They have about half of the local medical volunteers they expect to need.

Poppy Green, clinic coordinator, said RAM could use about 20 more dentists, eight more optometrists, another four ophthalmologists and five more opticians.

Volunteers without medical skills can lend their hands as well to register patients and perform errands, Elizabeth MacDonald, local event coordinator for RAM, said.

MacDonald said RAM administrators are “constantly checking” on their local volunteers so they are not overwhelmed or neglected. “They meet the needs of the volunteers as well as the patients.”

Nancy Lawrence, MTC events coordinator, said translators who speak Creole and Spanish could be especially beneficial.

To register as a volunteer, go to ramusa.org.

The clinic will operate the same as it has in past years.

The MTC parking lot will open at midnight. At 3 a.m., RAM officials will distribute numbered admission tickets. The Salvation Army’s mobile canteen will serve breakfast. Tropicana Products will provide orange juice.

The clinic opens at 6 a.m. and will serve patients as their numbers are called.

Free medical services include blood pressure and blood sugar checks, breast exams, pap smears, HIV testing and flu shots.

Dental services include cleanings, fillings and extractions.

Visual services include eye exams and prescription eyeglasses that are made on site.

RAM will provide bagged lunches.

Soles 4 Souls, a Tennessee-based charity, will provide “new and gently used” shoes for adults and children, MacDonald said. Various nonprofits will also have exhibits about their services.

Lawrence said she hopes a local restaurant or caterer will offer to provide dinner for the RAM staff members and volunteers from Tennessee that Saturday night.