More than 1,000 New Yorkers from around the state received free dental care at the first New York State Mission of Mercy (MOM), held this past summer at Hudson Valley Community College. For two days in June, the field house and ice arena at Hudson Valley’s McDonough Sports Complex was transformed into a large-scale dental triage and surgical ward.
Dental care offered during the two-day event included cleanings, fillings, extractions, oral health education and assistance in finding a dentist for follow-up care. Since 2003, MOM events have provided more than $26 million in free dental services to more than 52,000 individuals throughout New York State.
Forty dental hygiene students, nearly every dental faculty member and literally hundreds of department alumni worked alongside dental professionals from around the state at the event. In addition, dozens of other college faculty members, staff and students helped out with patient registration, logistics, set-up and discharge.
“We did our part, but this event would not have been possible without the support of the college community who stepped up to volunteer and make this run smoothly,” said Judith DiLorenzo, department chair for the college’s Dental Hygiene and Dental Assisting programs.
