Mission of Mercy in Pennsylvania, known as MOM-n-PA, is returning to the AgriPlex in the Allentown Fairgrounds again this year! This is a two-day free dental mission for our most vulnerable population, primarily those who cannot afford regular dental care. The event will be held on Friday and Saturday, May 29th and 30th.
We are in need of volunteers to make this mission successful once again. The clinics run from 7:00 AM until 5:00 PM on Friday and Saturday. Volunteers are encouraged to sign up for a full day session if they can, or choose a half-day option.
Up to 500 lay volunteers are needed for positions such as Patient Ambassadors (escorting patients within the facility), Food Service (helping to serve food to our volunteers and some patients), Patient Registration, Translators (especially Spanish but others as well), and to monitor the patient waiting areas.
We are also in need of people who can physically volunteer to help with the clinic set up on Thursday, May 28th starting at 9:00 AM, or to help break down the equipment starting around 3:00 PM on Saturday.
Registration for volunteers is mandatory (no walk-ins) and volunteers must be 18 years old or older.
Just a note - patients do not pre-register. This is a first come, first serve clinic and is absolutely free to patients. We do not ask for ID or income information. We provide cleanings, simple fillings, some simple root canal therapies, extractions (not wisdom teeth) and some simple partial dentures (on a case by case basis to replace front teeth only). All patients go through medical triage to determine if they are medically fit for dental care, and dental triage to determine their needs. We cannot provide comprehensive care, but we especially want to help people be relieved of dental pain or problems. We anticipate between 1300 and 2000 patients again this year.
Finally, if you cannot volunteer but wish to make a monetary donation to support this mission, please do so at the same website. Our budget for this program is $250,000 to cover event space, rental equipment, food and dental supplies. Any donation is truly appreciated.
Thanks in advance for any help you can provide, and I hope to see you at this event!
Charlie Incalcaterra
cjidmd@ptd.net
Flatiron Building, 5th Floor Community Room
