The Oregon Faith Report - Faith News from Oregon

September 11, 2008

From Medical Teams International,

2008 Oregon Governor’s Volunteer Award lauds Mobile Dental program. (PORTLAND, ORE.—Sept. 10, 2008)  Medical Teams International’s Mobile Dental program recently received one of the highest honors available in the state of Oregon: Outstanding Statewide Volunteer Program.

The mobile “dental clinic on wheels” is the largest volunteer-driven provider of free dental care in the United States. Medical Teams International and other statewide and regional winners will be recognized by Governor Ted Kulongoski on Sept. 12 in Salem, Ore., for their efforts to better the lives of others in their communities.

Medical Teams International’s Mobile Dental program cared for more than 9,000 Oregonians in 2007.  Last year, 654 dental professionals in Oregon spent time volunteering aboard a dental van.  They provided free, urgent dental care to patients who could not otherwise afford dental services.  The program provides more than $3.5 million in care to Oregon families and saves Portland metro-area emergency rooms an estimated $500,000 annually in patient emergency visits.

“Volunteer service is the heartbeat of our Mobile Dental program,” says Steve Vickers, director of the Mobile Dental program.  “Every clinic we host depends on the selfless dedication of our volunteer dental professionals. We are blessed to have such a talented and committed group of people helping us make a positive impact in our community.”

Medical Teams International is a non-profit humanitarian relief and development agency that exists to demonstrate the love of Christ to people affected by disaster, conflict and poverty around the world. In its 29-year history, Medical Teams International has deployed more the 1,900 volunteer teams and shipped over $1.2 billion in antibiotics, surgical kits and lifesaving medicines to care for 35 million people in 100 countries.

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