We think everyone in Georgia, and perhaps the nation, who watches any major television coverage is aware of the highly successful first GDA Mission of Mercy (GMOM) event held on August 12 and 13. Every dentist should be proud of this event and your profession!
The clinic exceeded all expectations by providing free dental care to an unbelievable 2,179 Georgians suffering from oral disease and pain. There were more than 1,500 volunteers on hand! The 900 dental volunteers, including 300 dentists, provided cleanings, fillings, extractions, limited root canal therapy, and lab procedures valued at $1.5 million.
All of those involved with GMOM clearly demonstrated their giving spirit and compassion and exemplified the best of what people can be. This event was possible thanks to the countless hours of hard work put in by all volunteers. In addition to the 900 dental volunteers, 600 community volunteers provided services including child care, clinic set-up and tear down, entertainment, office services, parking, security, translation, hospitality, and trash removal.
A true partner in this effort was The First Baptist Church of Woodstock. Their venue was incredible and the church leaders, staff, and parishioners worked shoulder-to-shoulder with our dental volunteers and GDA staff to ensure that no detail was overlooked.
Our GMOM event received generous donations from many commercial vendors, foundations, and caring individuals.Please click here to view the list of our amazing financial and in-kind donors. We hope you will thank them for their contribution to the success of this program. (And feel free to make a GMOM donation if you feel called to do so!)
A very special thank you goes to GMOM chairs Dr. Karyn Stockwell and Dr. Jonathan Dubin. These dentists sacrificed virtually an entire year of their personal and professional lives to make their vision of caring for fellow Georgians a reality. The entire GMOM Task Force, as well as Courtney Layfield and the other GDA staff members, must also be recognized for their immeasurable contribution to the welfare of the people in their community. Each of these individuals is a shining example of the great works and generosity of dentistry in Georgia. To see the members of the GMOM Task Force, please click here.
The compassion of Georgia’s oral health care providers at the GMOM event was seen around the state and country. GMOM was featured on The Today Show and The NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams, as well as on local news programs airing on WSB-TV, Fox 5, 11 Alive, and CBS Atlanta (Channel 46). Articles about GMOM appeared in the Atlanta Journal Constitution and the Cherokee Tribune, and the event was discussed on radio stations across North Georgia. Legislators as well as Georgia First Lady Mrs. Sandra Deal attended to show support for this incredible event.
Since GMOM's conclusion, emails from patients and people around the country expressing gratitude for this initiative have poured into the GDA office. One patient described how thankful she was for the opportunity to have dental care. She grew up homeless and never received care from a dentist. At age 32, her teeth were in poor condition. She recalled people looking at her with disgust as if she were a drug addict because of her teeth. She waited for 18 hours at the church to receive extractions. She was tired, but she wrote that what kept her going was knowing that the doctors were working every hour she was waiting and all she had to do was sit and wait. Because of the care she received at GMOM, she said that she now has the confidence to earn a degree and really change her and her children’s lives.
Another person sent an email that read “[a]lthough the free dental service you offered did not benefit me because I live in New York, I would like to thank you on behalf of America. In times like these when reading the news is an exercise in mental toughness, it was such a uplifting moment for me to see an organization like yours band together and help those in need. Keep up the good work and let's hope it sets an example for other organizations that have the ability to lend a hand.”
Yet another individual from Massachusetts wrote “I watched the NBC News with tears in my eyes. How awful to see so many people unable to afford what most consider a necessity--dental care ... If I hit the lottery numbers, I'll be donating to your organization to help the good people who need care & cannot afford it. BLESS YOU ALL & may your kindness return to you many fold. You are truly doing the Lord's work.”
We are also receiving notes from people who did not get to the event and need help. We would like to try to help some of the people in desperate need. If you could not participate in GMOM, would you donate your time now? If you can provide unpaid dental care to just one patient please email willich@gadental.org. You can determine how much care that you want to provide to the patient when we connect you with the patient.
Thanks to the volunteer dentists who are providing follow-up care to GMOM patients. We have activated four special phone lines and GMOM patients were given the phone numbers to call. Each phone, dedicated to a specific area of care, will be answered by our designated volunteer dentists for the next 30 days. Inquiries made after that time will be directed to the GDA office, and will be handled on a case by case basis.
Speaking of volunteers ... if you and / or your staff or family members responded to our urgent email on Friday and volunteered on Saturday, please email your name and contact information to gmom@gadental.org. We want to properly record and recognize your volunteerism.
Thank you for making this GMOM an amazing success!
What Were GMOM's Goals?
Our successful GMOM will:
• PROVIDE free access to dental care for 2,000 low- and no-income adults while placing a high priority on patients suffering from dental infections or pain.
• EDUCATE patients and family members in attendance about the importance of obtaining and maintaining optimal oral health.
• RAISE AWARENESS of the increasing difficulty low-income Georgia adults face in accessing critical dental care.
• CHALLENGE patients, policymakers, and dental professionals to work together to improve the oral health of those who have been promised care by the state.
I Could Not Volunteer. Can I Donate to GMOM?
Absolutely! A dental charitable event of the magnitude of GMOM will require nearly $275,000 in tax deductible donations and in-kind contributions to cover expenses for dental equipment and facility rentals, supplies, pharmaceuticals, and food and beverage items. Click here to find out how you can donate!
Dental volunteers provided basic patient care such as fillings, extractions, and cleanings. Limited additional services were available as clinical volunteers were available. Patients and attending family members received dental health education, and referrals to dental resources in their communities.
