Flint, MI — The Mission of Mercy, in partnership with the Michigan Dental Association, will provide $2 million in free dental care for Flint residents at Dort Financial Center on Friday, June 14 and Saturday, June 15, 2024.
Hundreds of dentists and staff will volunteer, and the dental services will be on a first-come, first-serve basis.
“It’s designed for everybody so there’s no restrictions,” says Cameron Elrod, Vice President of the Michigan Dental Association Foundation. “It’s for people who either don’t have the resources to afford dental care or they’ve slipped between the cracks — they have a job and can’t afford [care] or it disqualifies them from a federal program.”
“We are not tracking who you are or where you’re from, so anybody can show up.”
Mission of Mercy expects to service up to 2,000 people, and according to Elrod, “most of the time, everybody gets seen.”
Doors open at 6 a.m., and the event will close at maximum capacity. No ID income or residency requirements exist, and translators are available on-site. Also, a shuttle from Downtown Hub to Dort Financial Center will be available for participants.
While there are enough dental experts to facilitate the event, Mission of Mercy still needs volunteers to help with registration, setup, teardown, and assist patients.
This is the first Mission of Mercy dental event to take place since one was held in Grand Rapids in 2018. The organization typically holds an event every two years, but the COVID-19 pandemic derailed its schedule.
The Mission of Mercy clinic treats patients of all ages, from the elderly to children. It addresses patients’ most urgent needs with the goal of serving the underserved and uninsured in Michigan.
Please visit their website if you are interested in volunteering or want more information about the event.