You have one day left before the first Local Celebrity Archery Shootout that will occur at the National Field Archery Association located behind Super 8 Motel. The games begin at 6:00 pm with teams of archers – some team members are very skilled and others are just out to have fun. The doors open at 5:30 to tables laden with a variety of food and the sound of arrows whizzing toward targets during the warm ups for the “intense competition”. Tickets are available at the door for $35 for individual or $60 per couple. Please join us!
The real reason for the fun and games is to help the nineteen United Way affiliated agencies serve our neighbors in need. The economy is showing some progress; however there are many of our neighbors who have not returned to their former level of employment, if at all.
Delta Dental Dakota Smiles Mobile is another program that reaches our neighbors in need for children and youth up to age 21. The mobile dental office will roll into Yankton and begin seeing the young clients by noon on Monday, March 22nd. For the rest of the week they will clean teeth, examine mouths, fill cavities, teach dental care and numerous other applications that will enable bright smiles to those that have not been able to afford dental treatment nor have dental insurance. All the treatments will be completed by noon on Friday at which time the Dakota Smiles Mobile will return to Pierre to get equipped for another South Dakota community for the next week.
To register for the program, the forms are available at all of the schools in Yankton, Head Start, Contact Center, Social Services, Community Health Office and United Way & Volunteer Services. The forms can also be emailed out by sending a request to volunserve@iw.net. Please return the forms to United Way at 231 Broadway by Wednesday, March 17th.
The forms are six pages requiring general contact information, dental history, medical history, treatment consent and agreement, release of health information, photo consent and release, flu shot information and immunization record. All of this information provides the Dakota Smiles staff necessary information to quickly and efficiently address the appropriate dental treatment.
Last year there were 28 patients that sat in the dental chair a total of 88 times. Procedures included 55 diagnostic, 208 preventative and 134 restorative. Records show that 79% of the patients had decay with 4% getting teeth extracted. This was the first dental visit for 25% of the patients. All ages were treated with 33% being in the 18-21 age-group. Information was also obtained on the patient’s dental history: 86% brush daily, 43% floss, 57% drink sweetened drinks daily, 68% drink milk daily and 25% of them were in pain. The value of the Dakota Smiles Mobile Dental Program totaled $24,989!
When you donate to United Way & Volunteer Services, you are reaching each of these young clients and their families. By providing dental care you not only brighten smiles, but there is also relief from pain, raised awareness of dental hygiene, improved health and improved quality of life. Share this information with families with children – it is a free program providing quality dental care.