A donation is providing some smiles at Windsor's Downtown Mission.
The Mission announced a donation of $10,000 by the United Church of Canada Foundation (UCCF) to buy dental equipment and supplies for its long-awaited Community Dental Clinic.
The donation was made through the Watkins Fund for Innovative Programs and Projects in Addressing Poverty and Children at Risk at the UCCF.
Mission Executive Director Ron Dunn says the donation will go a long way toward alleviating the strain on health care services caused by people using emergency services to receive dental care.
“We thank the United Church of Canada Foundation and our generous community for recognizing that dental coverage is a necessity, and supporting this initiative," says Dunn in a news release. "The need for accessible and affordable oral health care is real. It was a key issue in our recent provincial election. The Downtown Mission is stepping forward to provide people struggling with poverty or are homeless with basic preventative and restorative dental care services."
A portion of the third floor at the Mission's Wellness Centre on Ouellette Ave. is being renovated to accommodate the dental clinic, which will be a fully-functioning office geared toward helping the vulnerable population.
According to Ontario Oral Health, dental care is financially out of reach for 2.3-million Ontarians, and one in three Windsor-Essex residents do not have a dental plan. OHIP does not cover dental issues, with the exception of dental surgeries that must be performed in hospital.
As a consequence, those without dental coverage often resort to seeking care in the emergency room, putting a strain on health care resources.
The clinic, which will operate in partnership with St. Clair College's dental hygiene program, is expected to open next month.
