YOUNGSTOWN — The toll of the ever-rising costs of health care and insurance burdening families and individuals may be alleviated, temporarily at least, over the weekend.

Free medical, dental and vision services will be available Saturday and Sunday at the Covelli Centre, 229 E. Front St. in Youngstown, through Remote Area Medical, a Tennessee-based mobile clinic that will operate in Youngstown for the first time.

“People can’t reach their full potential if they are dealing with pain,” said Jeff Eastman, Remote Area Medical CEO. “We have the ability and will to help them, so that’s what we’ll do.”

The only catch? People will be seen in the order they obtain a ticket, and tickets become available around 3 a.m. Saturday.

A parking lot at Covelli Centre will open “no later” than midnight Saturday, when lines are expected to form. Ticket distribution “typically” begins at 3 a.m., and clinic doors open at 6 a.m. The process will repeat Sunday.

If there is inclement weather, volunteer cancellations or other circumstances, tickets may be distributed earlier than 3 a.m., according to a news release from the company. Everyone who wants to use the service, especially dental services, should arrive as early as possible, RAM recommends.

The services are all free, and users need not present identification.

The RAM event will provide access to dental cleanings, dental fillings, dental extractions, dental X-rays, eye exams, glaucoma testing, eyeglass prescriptions, eyeglasses made on-site, women’s health exams, general medical exams and comprehensive hearing exams, with free hearing aids provided at a follow-up event to eligible individuals. There also will be an orthopedist available for evaluations and joint injections.

Close to 37 percent of Youngstown’s residents live in poverty, a rate that triples the national average of 12.3 percent, according to U.S. census data for Youngstown.

“Just like many communities around the country, there are hundreds of people in Youngstown who are struggling,” Eastman said.

The 2018 / 2019 Community Health Assessment completed for the area by local health providers, officials and stakeholders identified five problem areas to concentrate on improving, said Erica Horner, director of nursing for community health at the Mahoning County Public Health District.

Chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease and obesity, mental health and addiction, infant and maternal health, health equity and social conditions that impact health are the five areas being addressed in the Community Health Improvement Plan being developed in response to the report, Horner said.

Health equity is ensuring all members of the community have the highest level of health available.

Poverty often places barriers on people, preventing them from accessing affordable medical care and healthy food options, often because of transportation issues or a lack of resources to fund preventative behaviors and nutritious diets, Horner said.

“We have a legacy of providing care to not just uphold, but build upon,” Eastman said. “RAM’s foundational principles include directives to provide free, quality services and to serve humanity. There are people in need here, and we want to help.”

rfox@tribtoday.com