FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

RICHMOND, VA – On Tuesday, November 15, Richmond’s homeless population will have the opportunity to receive a dental exam and dental treatment. In partnership with the VCU School of Dentistry and Dental Hygiene, the Virginia Dental Association (VDA), and the Virginia Dental Association Foundation (VDAF), Project Homeless Connect allows upwards of 75 patients to be seen for an exam, cleaning or extractions as needed. Patients will be seen from 8 a.m – 3 p.m., and the event takes place at the Greater Richmond Convention Center.

The event is part of the Mission of Mercy (MOM) program, in which VDA dentists and others volunteer their time to provide free dental care to those in need. Created by VDA Executive Director Dr. Terry Dickinson in 2000, the MOM program hosts six or more projects each year in strategic communities across the state.

Per Homeless Connect’s Mary Kidd:

“Project Homeless Connect matches clients with volunteers in a one-of-a-kind partnership to assist homeless adults connect to as many on-site services as possible in one day. Last year, with the help of all of our service providers, we were able to offer services to nearly 700 individuals. To do this, nearly 50 service providers (MOM being one of them) moved their operations to a single location for the day; providing dedicated healthcare, dental care, vision screenings, mental health interviews, benefit services, identification services, employment resources, shelter and housing assessments, and much more.”

For media inquiries, please contact Danny Rubin of Rubin Communications (danny@rubincommunications.com or 757-285-7617).

ABOUT THE VIRGINIA DENTAL ASSOCIATION FOUNDATION (VDAF)

Founded in 1996 as the charitable and outreach arm of the VDA, the VDAF is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization whose mission is to provide access to dental care for underserved and underinsured Virginians. The organization provides funding for and coordination of the Mission of Mercy Program.