Community Care Day: FREE Giveaway!
Friday, September 12th – Ridgeview High School, Clintwood, VA
Join our team for a full day of free care and community support! We’ll provide regular Health Wagon services alongside UPIKE’s ocular screenings 👀 and a special giveaway of assorted items including hygiene kits, home goods, pillows, humidifiers, and more (while supplies last).
Time: Giveaway 7:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. | Ocular Screenings 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Hosted by: St. Mary’s Health Wagon in partnership with the University of Pikeville
Services available:
• Primary & preventive care: checkups, sick visits, BP & glucose checks, chronic disease support
• Labs & vaccines (as available)
• Women’s health & wellness
• Medication assistance & referrals
• UPIKE Ocular Screenings: visual acuity, eye pressure checks, and basic assessments, with referrals if needed
• Special Giveaway: household + personal-care items, first come, first served
Everyone is welcome—no insurance required. Walk-ins welcome; appointments encouraged for faster service.
📞 Questions? Call 276-328-8850
UPIKE & Health Wagon: Continuing a Tradition of Free Eye Screenings
The Health Wagon has a strong history of partnering with the University of Pikeville Kentucky College of Optometry (KYCO) to bring vital vision care to underserved communities across Southwest Virginia. Through these collaborations, the MobileEyes Appalachia unit has traveled to locations such as the Dr. Smiddy Clinic in Wise, the Sister Bernie Clinic in Clintwood, the Haysi Church of Christ, and the Wise County Courthouse.
During these events, KYCO students and faculty provide free screenings for conditions like macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, and other eye diseases. When issues are detected, patients are referred for the follow-up care they need. Thanks to advanced equipment, the screenings are quick, painless, and do not require dilation. In addition, patients often receive free eyeglass readers as part of the outreach.
“These screenings are dedicated to the late Donnie Rife, a longtime Health Wagon volunteer and Lions Club member who championed eye care for uninsured and underinsured individuals,” said Dr. Teresa Tyson, CEO of The Health Wagon. “Through these partnerships, we make sure no one is left without access to vision care.”
The initiative has been led by KYCO faculty, including Dr. Ian McWherter and Dr. Cliff Caudill, who emphasize that prevention and early detection are the keys to preserving sight and improving quality of life.