Students from the Lyon College School of Dental Medicine collected 2,350 food items for Our House in Little Rock, far exceeding their initial goal. The drive was organized by the school’s Academy of General Dentistry (AGD) student chapter and included participation from the dental school’s inaugural class.
AGD president Terry Miller said the idea came from a desire to support Central Arkansas as the state’s first dental school. “As future healthcare providers, we felt a responsibility to support the well-being of the broader community — not just in the clinic, but in ways that address basic needs like food security,” Miller said. He called Our House “vital” to families experiencing homelessness and hardship.
A friendly class competition and outreach to friends, family and hometown supporters accelerated donations. Local dentists and faculty also encouraged students.
Dr. Brian Skinner of Skinner Family Dentistry in Sherwood donated Visa gift cards to top contributors—an incentive Miller said helped push the drive past its goal.
Organizers singled out several standout contributors: Brianna Carmony collected nearly a quarter of the total items; Noah Pruitt delivered multiple truckloads of food; and Sarah Thompson donated large quantities of ramen boxes.
AGD officers — Vice President Erika Bittinger, Secretary Ravdeep Warar, Membership Engagement Chair Nour El Ammar, D1 Representative Karlee Carmony, and Treasurer Brianna Carmony — coordinated logistics, tracked donations and kept classmates motivated.
The donated food will be distributed to families served by Our House, providing assistance during a season of heightened need. Founding dean Dr. Burke Soffe praised the students’ effort as an example of the school’s mission. “This project reflects the heart of who we want our students to be — compassionate, community-minded leaders,” Soffe said.
Miller added the project strengthened the class. “It reminded us that our role as future dentists goes beyond clinical care. We are part of a community, and we have a responsibility to support it.”