KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) -- The economic downtown has turned up new families at a decades old East Tennessee free health care option.

More than five hundred have already received care at Remote Area Medical's first clinic of the year Saturday morning. And the Knoxville-based organization expects that number to grow a record thousand.

Early on a freezing Saturday morning, Annette Hicks waits and hopes.

"Trying to stay warm in the car. Just praising the lord," Hicks says sitting in her car.

Because sitting at Chilhowee Park before 5:00 am could mean free health care for her and her 17-year-old son. It's the first time the Jacksboro family can't afford it.

"Times are tough right now. My husband's self employed. We just don't make enough to pay for insurance. We make enough just to get by and live," Hicks.

The mother of four joined hundreds of hopeful patients-to-be braving the cold for free treatment at Remote Area Medical's first health clinic this year.

"You come here. You stand in line and first come, first serve. We just see as many as we can," RAM founder Stan Brock said.

Brock says the economic downturn could turn up more under or uninsured families looking for help. Patients showed up so fast this time all 600 numbers were gone by 5:30 Saturday morning.

"Judging by this particular area....that's a pretty good indication that 100 or so of those people are people who wouldn't normally have to come to us for this service," Brock said

That also includes Ann Lewis.

"My husband just got laid off last April so this is the only way we can get our vision and dental done right now," Lewis said.

RAM expects to treat a record thousand patients this weekend. That's up about 100 from last year. But hundreds more could still get turned away.

"It's the really lousy part of what we do," Brock said.

RAM will start seeing patients Sunday morning at 6:00. If you miss it this weekend, the next clinic is at Pigeon Forge High School March 14th and 15th.