NC Mission of Mercy
Program to receive national recognition in USA Weekend |
Posted March 20, 2006 |
By Stacie Crozier Burlington, N.C.—Next month, the Open Door Dental Clinic of Alamance (County) is expected to get nationwide recognition as a Make A Difference Day honoree in USA Weekend Magazine, a program created in partnership with the Points of Light Foundation.
The nonprofit volunteer program has provided free fixed site dental care and conducted several Mission of Mercy outreach programs at sites around the state, making a difference for North Carolinians since 1998.
So far this year, the organization has held MOM dental clinics in Mount Airy, N.C., and Siler City, N.C., and participated in the six-day New Orleans MOM last month.
Dr. Steven Slott, president of the board of directors and executive director of the Open Door Dental Clinic of Alamance, says the MOM program is a natural extension of the free dental clinic he began coordinating in Burlington in 1998.
From there, he says, he participated in some Mission of Mercy dental clinics in Virginia to "learn the ropes," made phone calls and hooked up people who wanted to donate funding, equipment and supplies with people who wanted to provide care.
"The Open Door Clinic has generated nearly $250,000 in donations and grants for the program and has enough equipment for a 30-chair portable dental clinic which can be set up in a few hours' time, just about anywhere," says Dr. Slott. "Certainly we are gaining momentum, and our Make A Difference Day award of $10,000 will also support these programs. Now we need more volunteers."
One Open Door dentist volunteer, Dr. Keith Taylor, Chapel Hill, N.C., has flown to many of the MOM sites in his Cessna 182, enabling him to enjoy his love of aviation while volunteering for a worthy cause.
"My love of flying affords me the flexibility to volunteer further away than a few hours' drive," Dr. Taylor says. "I have also been involved in dental missions as far away as Louisiana, Tennessee and Virginia, and I've been flying with Angel Flight Mid-Atlantic for several years, flying medical patients for treatment."
In fact, Dr. Taylor was named the Angel Flight Mid-Atlantic's Pilot of the Year, having flown 29 charitable missions in 2005.
"Generally, we treat up to 350 patients in a two-day MOM," he says. "We're really busy and it's great to see all the volunteers come together."
The Open Door program also encourages dental students from the University of North Carolina School of Dentistry to volunteer. Kim Hammersmith and Jonelle Grant have volunteered at several MOMs.
Ms. Hammersmith, who plans to earn a master of public health degree and practice public health dentistry, organized student volunteers for the MOM program held in her hometown of Burlington last October. The two-day mission involved 45 student volunteers who helped 22 dentists and 10 hygienists provide almost $70,000 worth of care to 267 patients.
"Dental students find MOM clinics to be worthwhile ways to give back to the community," says Ms. Hammersmith, "practice clinical skills and techniques and learn more about dentistry. The people we treat are extremely grateful for our services. The Burlington project was especially meaningful for me because it was in my hometown. The clinics are exhausting, but a great way to bond with classmates outside the classroom."
Ms. Grant says the MOM clinics are "unique to have students, faculty, private practitioners and retired dentists come together. You learn so much from each other in a nonthreatening or graded environment.
"When you realize the amount of need that is out there," adds Ms. Grant, "you can no longer ignore it. That is why I volunteer. As Margaret Mead once said: 'Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.'
"I don't know if I'm changing the world in any way, but I hope that I have had an effect on a few that have allowed me to come into their lives and give a part of me through service."
The Open Door Dental Clinic has several upcoming MOM dates and sites so far, and more could be added later, says Dr. Slott. They include:
- Boone, N.C., March 31-April 1;
- Murphy, N.C., April 7-8;
- Wilmington, N.C., April 28-29;
- Saxapahaw, N.C., July 15;
- Washington, N.C., July 21-22;
- Sylva, N.C., Sept. 22-23;
- Burlington, N.C., October (dates to be determined).
For more details on the program or to volunteer for the North Carolina clinics, log on to www.alamanceopendoordental.net  or call Dr. Slott at 1-336-226-5349.
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