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A BRIEF HISTORY OF MISSION OF MERCY
Thirteen years ago in Virginia, an association of dentists, staff and other volunteers organized and carried out what was to become known as a Mission of Mercy, or MOM. Their goal was to provide free dental care to local residents who could not otherwise afford or receive care. Since that time, there have been over 70 MOM events in 26 states using the large mobile dental clinic model. While this model had been utilized many times in under developed countries, it had not been tried here at home. Perhaps the idea was assumed to be unnecessary in a developed country like the United States. But, after more than $100 million in free care delivered to over 150,000 patients, that assumption has been proven wrong. There is tremendous need right here at home in this country, and that includes Alaska.
ABOUT AKMOM
The Alaska Dental Society, partnering with many community donors and volunteers, will host the second Alaska Mission of Mercy in Anchorage on April 29th and 30th, 2016. Our goals and primary focus will be to:
Provide free access to dental care while placing a high priority on patients suffering from dental infections or pain.
Raise public awareness of the increasing difficulty low-income adults and children face in accessing critical dental care.
Encourage low-income patients, policymakers and dental professionals to work together to reduce the disease burden and improve the oral health of Alaskan residents.
To help reach these goals, the Alaska Dental Society has been fortunate to be overwhelmed with community support. Pillars in Alaskan business and philanthropy are working together with our dental community to provide a 2-day event that doesn't pretend to solve the access to dental care problem, but intends to treat as many as 1500 patients and deliver in the neighborhood of over $1,000,000 in care. We will bring people together for the common good of our community, to highlight a need for oral health which is inseparable from overall health and well-being.
Rotarians will volunteer on many levels during the planning process but will also contribute greatly during the two day event.
This event is geared to reach the need of the working under insured.
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