This fall, the Wicomick Youth and Civic Center will host a free dental care event at 500 Glen Street in Salisbury, Maryland, welcoming dentists from across the state.
The event, hosted by the Eastern Shore Mission of Mercy, in collaboration with volunteer dentists and staff, will provide free dental care to hundreds of Eastern Shore residents on Friday, September 13th, and Saturday, September 14th, with patients receiving treatment starting at 7:00 AM.
This large-scale “Mission of Mercy” event is the first large-scale free dental clinic held on the Eastern Shore since the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Maryland Dental Association has previously hosted several smaller “Mission of Mercy” events across the state, actively supporting public awareness of oral health inequities and providing free oral health education.
The event is generously sponsored by several Eastern Shore businesses and organizations, including the Franklin P. and Arthur W. Perdue Foundation, the Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore (CFES), and CareFirst.
Dr. Tom Beckett, President of the Maryland Dental Association’s Charitable Educational Foundation, thanked the volunteers for their selfless dedication of their time and expertise and expressed sincere gratitude to sponsors such as Perdue and CFES for their crucial role in the success of the event.
Perdue Foundation Executive Director Kim Nechay stated that participating in the Eastern Shore Mercy Dental Clinic helped numerous neighbors receive free, basic dental care, significantly improving their quality of life and alleviating potential oral health issues.
CFES President Erica Joseph praised the program as a model of community philanthropy and thanked the dedicated volunteers and supporters for their collective positive impact on the health and well-being of the Eastern Shore community.
Since the Eastern Shore Mercy Mission’s inaugural event in 2013, over 3,000 volunteers have contributed over 23,500 hours of service, providing over $3 million in free dental care.
In 2019, the program provided additional treatment to over 1,100 patients, totaling over $1.126 million in services, demonstrating its profound contribution to the community.
