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Our office participated in the Connecticut Mission of Mercy at the New Haven Fieldhouse at James Hillhouse High School
Once again our office participated in the Connecticut Mission of Mercy annual free dental clinic. This year’s event was held at the Aetna Campus in Middletown, Connecticut. Many patients lined up as early as 10:00pm the night before; in the cold, wind and heavy rain. The first patients were admitted at 7:00 AM. Volunteers arrived well before sunrise.
This year 2049 patients were treated. Close to $1,000,000 in dental care was donated. Both of those figures were doubled from the previous year. People from all walks of life and from all parts of our state were served. Patients also came from as far away as Ohio and Maine.
There were those who had lost their jobs and subsequently their insurance. We saw people with disabilities, children and the elderly as well. All of them were greeted with a smile and treated with kindness and respect.
Our team was spread out all over; in Patient Registration, Dental Examination, X-ray, Restorative, Sterilization, Supplies, some were “runners” and some even helped with “crowd” control.
Hummel’s Hot Dogs provided free hot dogs for volunteers, and Carvel had a freezer stocked with ice cream sandwiches for all of us to enjoy. There were massage therapists to provide some stress relief for the volunteers and, WYBC was there providing the great music.
There were tears, pain, God Bless You’s, stress and exhaustion, but most of all compassion and gratitude.
We are looking forward to the 2011 Connecticut Mission of Mercy.
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