As students across Tennessee return to school, Delta Dental is taking action to ensure thousands of children have one of the simplest tools for oral and overall health: a toothbrush.
“Oral health is closely linked to a child’s overall well-being and ability to learn,” said Jeff Ballard, President and CEO of Delta Dental Tennessee. “Our Smile180 Foundation has long supported food banks across Tennessee to meet the needs of families.
We are honored to continue this partnership and help children return to school healthy and smiling.”
To provide toothbrushes to all children and raise awareness about the connection between nutrition and oral health, Delta Dental has donated over 50,000 toothbrushes to food bank backpack programs across Tennessee this year.
These programs provide easy-to-prepare meals to children who may be struggling with resources, especially on weekends and school breaks. Over 40% of families with children in Tennessee report experiencing food insecurity.
In Middle Tennessee, we donated 6,600 youth toothbrushes to Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee in support of back-to-school activities.
“Delta Dental remains committed to being a partner in caring for health,” said Dick Brown, Senior Director of Corporate Partnerships at Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee. “These toothbrushes are a valuable addition to the supplies we provide to families through our distribution programs.”
Delta Dental also donated toothbrushes to other food banks across the state:
In East Tennessee, Second Harvest Food Bank of East Tennessee in Maryville received 3,456 adult toothbrushes, 1,728 youth toothbrushes, and 1,000 “Grin for Kids™” brochures.
In Northeast Tennessee, Second Harvest Food Bank in Kingsport received 4,500 youth toothbrushes.
In Chattanooga, the Chattanooga Area Food Bank received 9,216 children’s toothbrushes and 4,608 adult toothbrushes.
In Memphis, the Mid-South Food Bank received 7,500 children’s and 7,500 adult toothbrushes to support families in West Tennessee.
The donation packages also included a “Grin for Kids” oral health tip booklet designed specifically for children, aimed at further promoting healthy habits statewide.
