June 3, 2016

The Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA)  announced today that RIPTA will again extend its service to assist people who are planning to visit the Rhode Island Mission of Mercy (RI MOM) annual free dental clinic which is being held this weekend.  The clinic will be at  the Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) Lincoln Campus on Saturday, June 4, 2016 and Sunday, June 5, 2016, with doors opening at 6:00am on both days. RIPTA will run supplementary service on Sunday, June 5, 2016 from 9:15am to 5:15pm – service that event organizers say will be important in helping people return to the Providence area after having received treatment.  Passengers can board a RIPTA bus marked “SPECIAL” at Bus Stop Y in Kennedy Plaza during that time.  Trips will run between Kennedy Plaza and CCRI every half hour beginning at 9:15am, with the last trip departing CCRI at 5:15pm.  Schedule information is posted below.  The fare for this service will be the regular bus fare of $2.00 one-way.   Libby Swan, Executive Director of the Rhode Island Oral Health Foundation, said that the demand for affordable dental care is so great that many people start lining up well in advance of the 6:00am start time on Saturday.  “We find that people have difficulty getting home later in the day, particularly on Sunday, which is why we appreciate RIPTA running this service for us. It’s one more way of making this care accessible.” On Saturday, June 4, 2016, passengers can use regularly scheduled service on Route 51 (Charles St.) or Route 54 (Lincoln/Woonsocket) to travel to and from the CCRI campus.  “Last year, this clinic provided care to about 1,000 people over the course of one weekend, so we are very happy to be of assistance,” said Barbara Polichetti, Director of Public Affairs for RIPTA. “Having access to affordable is important to people’s overall health and well being.” SPECIAL SUNDAY SERVICE TO RIMOM DENTAL CLINIC

The RIMOM program will provide free dental care to the uninsured, the underinsured and anyone who otherwise has difficulty getting to a dentist. Those who arrive for care and do not have any medically-compromising conditions that will prevent them from receiving care will be treated on a first-come, first-served basis based on oral health needs. The CCRI Dental Hygiene clinic is a fully-equipped dental center, with digital radiography, a sterilization center and electronic dental records. The clinic will be staffed with more than 370 dental and medical volunteers and more than 250 community volunteers. Other health organizations will also be on hand to share information on other services. For detailed information on the services offered please visit http://rimom.org/patient-info.htm.  For more information on schedules or other RIPTA services, please call 401-781-9400 or visit ripta.com.