🩺 Free Care Next Weekend, Free Labs With a Donation and a Pasta Check: Your Healthy Valley Report

Or: A Practical Guide for the RAM Clinic, a Blood-Donation Perk, a Walmart Pasta Recall and Medicare Season

Some weeks the health news is a stack of little sticky notes on the fridge: dates to write down, one bag to check and a habit that keeps damp corners from turning into a bigger chore. This week’s report is that kind. Next weekend, Remote Area Medical brings free dental, vision and medical care to Chattanooga. Blood Assurance and Goodlabs are offering free lab panels when you donate at two nearby centers. There’s also a frozen pasta recall worth a glance, Medicare Open Enrollment starting Wednesday and a few calm CDC tips for mold after a wet stretch.

Here’s what’s in this week’s report: how to get in line for the RAM free clinic Oct. 17–18, free bloodwork when you donate at Gunbarrel or North River in Hixson, one Walmart bettergoods pasta bag to check for a Listeria recall, Medicare Open Enrollment starting Oct. 15 and simple mold-prevention habits after rain.

⏱️ What this means for you in 30 seconds

• Need care? Free dental, vision and medical at Notre Dame High School, Chattanooga, Sat.–Sun., Oct. 17–18. Parking opens late Friday night. Doors open 6 a.m. Saturday. No ID or insurance required.
• Donate blood, get free labs: Book through Goodlabs at Blood Assurance Gunbarrel or North River (Hixson). Panels that often cost $200–$500 out of pocket.
• Check the freezer: bettergoods Authentic Italian Lemon Alfredo Fettuccine (22 oz., yellow bag, UPC 194346442706) recalled for possible Listeria. All lot codes. Return to Walmart or discard.
• On Medicare? Open Enrollment runs Oct. 15–Dec. 7. Changes take effect Jan. 1.
• Damp after the rains? Dry wet items within 48–72 hours. Small mold: 1 cup bleach per gallon of water. Never mix bleach with ammonia.

🏥 Next Weekend: Free Dental, Vision and Medical Care in Chattanooga

Remote Area Medical (RAM), the Rockford, Tennessee nonprofit, is staging a free pop-up clinic at Notre Dame High School, 2701 Vermont Ave., Chattanooga, on Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 17–18. The Times Free Press, The Chattanoogan and Local 3 all covered the stop this week. Services include dental cleanings, fillings and extractions; eye exams and glasses made on-site; and basic medical exams and screenings. Denture services are not available at this clinic.

• All services are free. No ID, no insurance and no income requirements. Open to everyone.
• The patient parking lot opens no later than 11:59 p.m. Friday, Oct. 16, and stays open all night. Clinic doors open at 6 a.m. Saturday.
• Care is first-come, first-served. Dental and vision often fill early. You may need to choose between dental and vision; medical is offered to every patient who gets in.
• Sunday is an abbreviated day, so arrive early if you can.
• Bring water, snacks, your medicines, weather-appropriate clothes and a blanket if it’s chilly. Bathrooms are available at the parking site. There is no indoor waiting area before doors open.
• Questions: (865) 579-1530, weekdays 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m.

What it means for you: Think of it like the county fair line for the best biscuit stand — early birds get served, and patience is part of the deal. If someone in your family has put off a toothache, a glasses check or a basic exam, write the weekend on the calendar and pack a cooler. Employers and churches, a ride-share list for Saturday morning is a kindness that costs almost nothing.

👉 Read more (RAM: Chattanooga clinic details) · Times Free Press · The Chattanoogan

🩸 Donate Blood, Get Free Lab Work Nearby

Blood Assurance and Goodlabs have expanded a program that pairs a blood donation with free comprehensive lab panels — the kind that often run $200 to $500 out of pocket. The Chattanoogan and WSMV report the expansion includes two centers that are an easy drive from the Valley:

• Gunbarrel: 1748 Gunbarrel Rd. #104, Chattanooga, TN 37421
• North River: 1920 Northpoint Blvd., Suite 122, Hixson, TN 37343

Donors who book through the Goodlabs platform can choose panels such as a general yearly-style panel, women’s or men’s hormones, heart health, nutrients and others. Results come from the same CLIA-certified labs a doctor’s office would use (Quest, Labcorp, BioReference) and arrive in a private account with plain-language explanations.

What it means for you: It’s two good deeds in one stop — help a neighbor who needs blood, and learn a little more about your own numbers. If you’ve been putting off routine bloodwork because of cost or scheduling, this is worth a look. Business owners, a short note on the break-room board about the Hixson or Gunbarrel centers might nudge a donor who was waiting for a reason.

👉 Read more (Chattanoogan: Goodlabs expansion) · WSMV: Free screenings with donation

🍝 One Bag in the Freezer: bettergoods Lemon Alfredo Recalled

Gias Foods is recalling all lot codes of bettergoods Authentic Italian Lemon Alfredo Fettuccine sold at Walmart stores nationwide because of possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination, according to the FDA. No illnesses have been reported so far.

• Product: frozen pasta in a 22-oz. yellow plastic bag
• UPC: 194346442706
• Brand: bettergoods (Walmart’s brand)
• Action: do not eat. Return it to Walmart for a full refund, or discard it sealed so nobody else gets into it.

Listeria can be especially hard on pregnant women, older adults, young children and people with weakened immune systems. For healthy folks it often looks like a rough stomach bug; for those higher-risk groups, it’s worth treating seriously.

What it means for you: Same fridge-door habit as last week’s berry check — two minutes, then you’re done. If you run a café or church kitchen that stocks bettergoods frozen meals, pull that SKU before the weekend potluck. Everyone else, peek once and move on.

👉 Read more (FDA: bettergoods Alfredo recall)

📋 Medicare Open Enrollment Starts Wednesday, Oct. 15

Medicare’s yearly Open Enrollment runs October 15 through December 7, according to Medicare.gov. That’s the window when you can join, switch or drop a Medicare Advantage plan, change how you get drug coverage or make other plan changes. Changes you make during this period take effect January 1 of the next year, and the plan must receive your enrollment request by December 7.

What it means for you: You don’t have to change anything. But if your prescriptions, doctors or budget shifted this year, October is the time to compare. Bring a grown kid or a trusted neighbor to the kitchen table with your current card and a notepad — two heads beat one when the mailers start stacking up. This is general information, not advice about which plan to pick; talk with Medicare, your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) or a trusted counselor before you switch.

👉 Read more (Medicare.gov: Open Enrollment)

🌧️ After a Wet Week: Keep Mold From Settling In

Rain and leftover dampness are part of fall in the Valley. The CDC’s mold guidance is short and practical: when rain or flood water gets into a building, clean and dry wet items within 48 to 72 hours, keep wet areas well ventilated and discard materials that can’t be dried or repaired.

• For a small amount of visible mold, the CDC lists a mix of 1 cup household liquid bleach per 1 gallon of water.
• Never mix bleach with ammonia or products that contain ammonia.
• If mold covers more than about 10 square feet, consider calling a pro.
• People with asthma, mold allergies, chronic lung disease or a weak immune system should be extra careful around moldy areas and talk with a doctor if breathing symptoms flare.

What it means for you: It’s like wiping down the truck bed before the mud hardens. Open windows when the air is dry, run a fan, check the basement corner and the laundry room. Renters, tell the landlord about leaks early. Shop owners, a quick walk-through after a storm weekend can save a bigger cleanup later.

👉 Read more (CDC: Preventing mold) · CDC: Reentering a flooded home

✅ Your Healthy Valley Checklist

• ✅ Mark the calendar: RAM free clinic Oct. 17–18 at Notre Dame High School. Pack snacks, meds and layers; aim for early.
• ✅ Curious about free labs? Look up Goodlabs booking for Blood Assurance Gunbarrel or North River (Hixson).
• ✅ Check the freezer for bettergoods Lemon Alfredo Fettuccine (UPC 194346442706). Return or discard if you find it.
• ✅ On Medicare? Open Enrollment is Oct. 15–Dec. 7. Compare only if something changed for you.
• ✅ Dry damp spots within 48–72 hours. Small mold: bleach mix as above. Never mix bleach with ammonia.

Practical rule: Write the date down, check the bag once and dry the wet spot early — three little habits that keep a fall week from turning into a scramble.

This article is general information, not medical advice. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist about what’s right for you and your family. In an emergency, call 911.

— Dunlap.Today

📚 Plain-English Health Glossary

• Remote Area Medical (RAM): A Tennessee-based nonprofit that runs free pop-up clinics for dental, vision and medical care.
• First-come, first-served: Care is given in the order people arrive and receive tickets, until that day’s capacity is reached.
• CLIA-certified lab: A lab that meets federal quality standards for clinical testing, the same kind a doctor’s office uses.
• Listeria (Listeria monocytogenes): A germ that can contaminate food. It is especially risky for pregnant women, older adults and people with weak immune systems.
• Recall: When a company pulls a product from shelves, often with FDA oversight, because of a safety concern.
• Medicare Open Enrollment: The yearly Oct. 15–Dec. 7 window when many people with Medicare can change Advantage or drug plans for the next year.
• Mold: Tiny fungi that grow in damp places. Drying wet materials quickly helps keep them from spreading indoors.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need an ID or insurance for the RAM clinic?

No. RAM says the Chattanooga clinic is open to everyone, with no ID, no insurance and no income requirements. Services are free and first-come, first-served.

Can I get both dental and vision at RAM on the same day?

Often you may need to choose one. Dental and vision fill early, and Sunday is a shorter day. Medical services are offered to every patient who is admitted.

How do the free Goodlabs blood tests work?

You book a blood donation through the Goodlabs platform for a participating Blood Assurance center, then choose from available panels. Results go to a private account. Confirm current hours and eligibility when you book.

Is every bettergoods pasta recalled?

This FDA announcement covers bettergoods Authentic Italian Lemon Alfredo Fettuccine, 22 oz., UPC 194346442706, all lot codes. Check that product specifically; other bettergoods items are not named in this recall.

Do I have to change my Medicare plan in October?

No. Open Enrollment is optional. Use it if your doctors, drugs or costs changed. Changes made by Dec. 7 take effect Jan. 1.

🔗 Other Resources

• Remote Area Medical: Chattanooga clinic page
• Blood Assurance: Chattanooga area giving opportunities
• FDA: Current recalls and safety alerts
• Medicare.gov: Open Enrollment
• CDC: Preventing mold after rain or flooding
• Tennessee Department of Health
• Hamilton County Health Department

🌻 Small Habits, Steady Week

Nothing here calls for panic. A weekend clinic date, a blood-donation appointment if you’re eligible, a two-minute freezer check, a calm look at Medicare mail and a dry basement corner. That’s a short list for a healthier fall, and you’re probably already halfway there.

We’ll keep watching for clinics, screenings and free services so you don’t have to. Read Dunlap.Today and sign up for our newsletter for plain-English Valley news, and find local businesses anytime on Dunlap.Directory.