Free RAM clinic set for May 30-31 at Crestview High School

The clinic will provide dental, vision and medical services on a first-come, first-served basis. The event is open to everyone, and no ID or insurance is required. There are no income requirements or restrictions.

Services include dental cleanings, fillings and extractions; eye exams and glasses; and basic health exams and screenings.

The event will begin at 6 a.m. at Crestview High School, located at 1250 N. Ferdon Blvd. The parking lot will open no later than 11:59 p.m. the night before and will remain open overnight. Clinic doors will open at 6 a.m., with plans to close at 6 p.m. Saturday and noon Sunday.

Crestview resident, RAM representative and founder of Dinner At Dad’s Ed Mitchell has been promoting the event, including regularly informing the Crestview City Council of updates. Mitchell was also the 2024 recipient of Crestview’s Citizen of the Year Award.

Mitchell has been involved with RAM since 1999, when he was asked to volunteer at an event in a rundown elementary school in Georgia.

“My wife was stationed overseas in Korea, and it was just me and my three kids, and it happened to be my birthday weekend, and I thought that would be pretty cool,” Mitchell said. Upon seeing the lines, Mitchell’s father, who was with him, remarked that they couldn’t believe they were in the United States. With that experience, Mitchell said he “kind of fell in love with it and has been doing it ever since.”

This year’s event is being supported in Crestview by the mayor and City Council, the Lions Club, Elks Lodge, Okaloosa County School District and the Crestview Church of the Nazarene, among others.

According to Mitchell, health care providers, including doctors and nurses, are still signing up. Several colleges’ dental schools, including the University of Florida and the University of South Florida, will have volunteers assisting patients.

The event will also include volunteers who will guide patients through the process. Patients entering the parking lot will be directed to parking spots by volunteers and will wait in order to be seen based on arrival time. Patients must be present to receive a service ticket, which will be distributed based on arrival time. Patients must remain in the parking lot to maintain their place in line. If a patient leaves and returns, they will receive a new service ticket. The parking lots do not have heating or cooling shelter, but bathrooms will be available.

Organizers urge patients to bring water and snacks, all medications they are taking, weather-appropriate clothing and phone chargers as needed. Organizers also remind potential patients that dental and vision services are limited and could fill early, and patients may have to choose between the two. Medical services will be offered to every patient. Closing times may vary, and weather and volunteer conditions can affect services and hours. Patients are encouraged to monitor ramusa.org/events/crestview-florida for updates.

Mitchell offered the following advice to those who plan to use the free services:

“Patience, you got to have patience. Everybody is coming for the same thing and it’s free. My advice is to make friends because you are all in the same boat, trying to get the same thing, bring everything that you need and just try to enjoy the experience.”

RAM clinics are pop-ups that provide high-quality, free medical, dental and vision services for underserved and underinsured people. RAM celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2025, as well as serving its millionth patient.