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NORWICH – Thousands are expected to turn out for no-cost dental, medical, vision, and veterinary treatments at the Norwich High School starting this week, thanks in part to the efforts of Greater Chenango Cares.

Greater Chenango Cares will usher in the area's third installment of an IRT (short for Innovative Readiness Training) on Thursday. The collaboration between local government and nonprofit agencies and the U.S. Department of Defense provides no-cost health care to community members while also training service men and women to orchestrate health care services during emergencies.

Organizers say the event is a win-win that benefits both the local community and the Department of Defense. The Chenango United Way has been one of the local agencies instrumental in bringing the event to the Norwich Middle School/High School complex in 2015, 2016, and now 2019.

“We are very excited about this event and the impact it will have on the community,” a United Way spokesperson said in a statement this week.

The United Way has been actively recruiting volunteers to help man the event. Without those volunteers, IRT wouldn't be possible.