Physician’s assistant Angela Carr, right, talking with Ruth Sobola, of Providence, one of 14 people who were chosen for treatment.

The Providence Journal / Glenn Osmundson

PROVIDENCE — Ruth Sobola was first in line at the Rhode Island Free Clinic Thursday afternoon, standing in front of 75 people gathered on a sidewalk alongside the Hindle Building at 655 Broad St. They were waiting for a shot at what many others take for granted –– health care.

A small slice of the 120,000 Rhode Islanders without health insurance, these people had pinned their hopes of seeing a doctor on a lottery, a monthly event at the Free Clinic.

Sobola said she’d been there since 2 p.m., although the drawing would not start until 4:30 p.m. “I have a toothache. It’s very painful,” she said. “All my body is aching. I have to see the doctor because of the pain in my body.”

Sobola, 57, has a job with the Falvey Linen Co., but the insurance offered to her was too expensive. She hadn’t seen a doctor since her husband lost his health insurance two years ago.

Reminded that she might not get in, Sobola, an immigrant from Nigeria, smiled. “God will favor me,” she said.

At 4 p.m., volunteers from the clinic came out with a roll of carnival-style paper tickets. They handed each person a ticket and asked them to put their name and number on the stub.

Someone else handed out sheets of paper with the rules in English and Spanish: the Free Clinic is only for people who have no health insurance. They must prove that their income is less that 150 percent of the federal poverty level –– that is, less than $2,200 a month for a family of three. The Free Clinic does not care for children 18 and younger, nor does it provide obstetrical care to pregnant women.

Lynne Urbani, the president and chief executive officer of the Rhode Island Free Clinic, addressed the group, saying she would be drawing 14 names in a few minutes, about half as many as usual because there were fewer volunteer doctors available this night. With a translator, she asked them to affirm that they have no insurance and have a ticket in their hand. They nod in agreement. Those whose names are pulled should expect to stay till 9 p.m. Those who aren’t chosen will get a call offering them an appointment; the next opening is in July.

“It saddens me as a human being to see that people have to wait, but I know that we can help,” said Sarah Nottage, director of clinical operations. Without the free clinic, they would either forgo care or go to the emergency room. Most people who show up for the lottery have already been diagnosed with a chronic illness such as diabetes or hypertension, she said.

Near the end of the line stood a burly man who identified himself as Paul Russell Montgomery Jr. He said he moved to Rhode Island four months ago to live with his in-laws after the business he owned in Texas failed. His wife works at a Tim Hortons doughnut shop. He has been unable to find work, has no health insurance and, nine weeks ago, ran out of the medications he needs for his diabetes. He also has an injured shoulder from a fall.

“I’m so happy this is here,” Montgomery remarked moments before the winners were chosen. “We don’t have this in Texas.”

Rhode Island has only one free clinic, and it plays a unique role. It accepts no insurance or government payments, charges no fees and relies on volunteers to provide care. The clinic has about seven paid administrative staff, and dozens of volunteers, including doctors and medical students.

Urbani stood in the middle of the group with a plastic fishbowl filled with tickets. The drawing began. As each name was called, the winner responded with a smile, rather than a cheer.

With only a few left to go, Urbani called out “Ruth Sobola.” The Nigerian woman with the achy body happily walked up to turn in her ticket.

Then Urbani said regretfully that she had only one ticket left to pull. “We hate this,” she said, pausing. “It’s very painful for us.” She read the last name. It wasn’t Montgomery.

As the crowd quietly dispersed, Montgomery learned he had another option. Those who speak English and have a car can visit one of 65 doctors in the community who have agreed to see a small number of Free Clinic patients for free in their offices. Montgomery got an appointment with a doctor in East Greenwich for next Wednesday, one of 25 people from the line who made such appointments on Thursday.

Meanwhile, Sobola and the 13 other chosen ones went inside to fill out forms while waiting for the doctors.

The lucky ones in the waiting room included Keith Knapton, 51, a former prisoner who is living in a drug-treatment program, reconnecting with his family and trying to get a fresh start on life. He needed a physical and blood pressure medications. And Elias Segura, 35, a Mexican immigrant whose last encounter with a doctor was a trip to the emergency room for gastritis. He has a job but no insurance. Also waiting was Josefina Hernandes, 49, who is unemployed and says she has multiple illnesses, including diabetes, headaches and a tumor on her kidney.

A woman walked by carrying several boxes of pizza. This was sustenance for the volunteers, who typically come straight from work. These pizzas were donated by the Trinity Brewhouse, but often the clinic has to buy food. Urbani said that food for the volunteers is the clinic’s fourth-biggest expense. The biggest is salaries for the staff of seven, followed by rent and insurance.

The first medical person arrived shortly before 6 –– Angela Carr, a physician assistant with Coastal Medical who has been volunteering six to eight hours a month since January. Sobola was her first patient.

In the exam room, Carr questioned her about her health history, her medications, her aches and pains, even her diet. She has slightly high blood pressure and swelling in her ankles. After Carr examined her, Sobolo headed to checkout to set up her followup visits: blood to be drawn Friday morning at Rhode Island Hospital, donated by the hospital; a return visit to the clinic in a week for another blood-pressure reading and to fill her prescription for blood-pressure medication; a mammogram, provided by a state program; another appointment in two months for a gynecological exam.

And what about the toothache? The free clinic has no dentists. Dentists are in short supply, Nottage explained, they’re hard to get for big money, never mind for free. Sobola was given a list of community health centers that have dental services. She can get her tooth looked at, although she is likely to have to pay a fee.

“I’m very happy,” Sobola said when her exam ended. “Thank you, God.”The R.I. Free Clinic

Founded: 1999

Staff: 7

Volunteers: 225

Patients: Between 800 and 1,000

Eligibility: Age 19 to 64;

no health insurance; income below 150 percent of the poverty level

ffreyer@projo.com