The Wicomico Youth & Civic Center will welcome dentists from across Maryland at a free dental care gathering this fall.
Dentists from across the state will donate their time and services to provide free dental care to hundreds of Eastern Shore residents, in collaboration with volunteer hygienists and other staff at the Eastern Shore Mission of Mercy, on Friday, Sept. 13, and Saturday, Sept. 14.
Patients will begin being seen at 7 a.m. at the civic center, which is located at 500 Glen Ave. in Salisbury, Maryland.
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What is Maryland Mission of Mercy?
Maryland Mission of Mercy events are gatherings of volunteer dental professionals who, along with a volunteer staff of several hundred, hold free, two-day dental clinics at locations around the state. This is the first large-scale Mission of Mercy event that has been held since the COVID-19 pandemic. Smaller Mission of Mercy events have been held in various locations across Maryland, said the Maryland State Dental Association in a news release.
Maryland State Dental Association members have helped to support and provide care at Mission of Mercy events across the state, from the Eastern Shore to Western Maryland. The Mission of Mercy provide free dental care, as well as help to educate patients and raise awareness about oral health inequities, the release stated.
Sponsorships from generous Eastern Shore businesses and organizations, including the Franklin P. and Arthur W. Perdue Foundation, the Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore (CFES) and CareFirst, have made possible the free care that is being delivered.
“We are so grateful for the volunteers who give their time to help our neighbors, and the sponsors such as Perdue, an iconic Eastern Shore company, and the CFES, which have been critical to the success of this event and the care we are able to provide Marylanders who need oral health care,” said Dr. Tom a’Becket, president of the MSDA Charitable and Educational Foundation.
Supporting the Eastern Shore Mission of Mercy dental clinic aligns with Perdue’s “Delivering Hope To Our Neighbors” outreach focused on improving quality of life and building strong communities, the release stated.
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“We’re thrilled to join the Eastern Shore Mission of Mercy dental clinic to help enable many of our neighbors access to free basic needed dental care and help relieve some of the underlying dental issues that would otherwise go untreated,” said Kim Nechay, executive director of the Perdue Foundation.
“The Eastern Shore Mission of Mercy is a true example of community philanthropy,” says CFES President Erica Joseph. “By bringing together volunteers who give selflessly and the financial generosity of so many, we can enhance the health and wellbeing of those in need, creating a ripple of positive impact on the Lower Shore.”
By the numbers, a huge impact on Eastern Shore
The Eastern Shore Mission of Mercy was first held in 2013. The first three events provided more than $3 million in services with the help of more than 3,000 volunteers giving over 23,500 hours of their time. In 2019, the Eastern Shore Mission of Mercy provided additional treatment to more than 1,100 patients. In total, more than $1.126 million worth of services were provided, the release stated.
Additional information can be found at https://www.easternshoremom.org/ . Those interested in volunteering at the upcoming dental care event may visit https://www.easternshoremom.org/volunteers to sign up.
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Olivia Minzola covers communities on the Lower Shore. Contact her with tips and story ideas at ominzola@delmarvanow.com .
This article originally appeared on Salisbury Daily Times: Dentists will descend on Salisbury to provide free dental care. Here's when and where
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