SUPPLY A SMILE

People who have experienced the sharp pain or incessant throbbing of a cavity will affirm that problems inside mouths are not laughing matters.  Though they often protest, children learn brushing as a pre-bedtime process to avoid traumatic trips to a dentis, and though they often forget, most adults recognize the value in flossing.  So many parts of our daily lives are dependent on a collection of concentrated enamel, dentin, cementum, and pulp.  Where would we be without our teeth?

“It’s amazing what a smile can do.”  Found in the mission statement for Canandaigua Churches In Action’s next proposed service to the community, these words encapsulate the major motivation for creating a new dental clinic.  Since CCIA has already succeeded in facilitating food, clothing, and medical distribution, the restoration and preservation of teeth through good dental care seems the next logical project. 

Titled “Supply a Smile,” the program endeavors to deliver free dental care to both uninsured and underinsured adults through the volunteered time and services of local dental professionals. 

Rev. Joan Wood, one of the chief advocates for this program, recognizes the importance of proper dental hygiene; it has been her passion and career for over thirty years.  While balancing professional responsibilities as a dental hygienist and church commitments as a prayer and worship pastor, she has organized and staffed clinics in both Africa and Asia, helping to bring a needed service to hurting people.  In India, she has powered dental equipment with car batteries.  In Ethiopia, she has comforted terrified children before the extraction of teeth from their infected gums.  

Now, noticing a neglected population in Canandaigua, she has joined a team of other concerned citizens to address the need in this community.  After all, good teeth contribute to both physical and mental health. 

Like the other health care professionals on the committee backing this project, Joan knows that destroyed or decaying teeth can have critical influence on different aspects of life.  Left unaddressed, infections in the mouth lead to a variety of other serious health risks and usually produce intense pain.  Once removed, problematic teeth leave embarrassing gaps in a smile, changing self-image and chipping away at self-esteem.  Joan hopes that making dental care more accessible will prevent these issues from ever arising.

Much like specialized medical services, though, dental services are not cheap, so most uninsured people choose to avoid this expense whenever possible.  “Supply a Smile” hopes to address this problem by making procedures free through the kind donations of the participating dentists who offer extractions, restorations, x-rays, tooth replacements, and cleanings directly in their offices.  Like many of CCIA’s other programs, “Supply a Smile” will minimize its operating costs—existing on gifts and donations from churches and the community—enough to cover the cost of keeping records and referring clients.  This partnership between professionals and volunteers has the potential to change the lives of many people in our community.

“Without a good job, paying for consistent dental hygiene is a challenge,” says Joan.  “It’s hard to find motivation to go to a job interview without a confident smile.  This kind of cycle doesn’t lead to success.” 

Work is currently under way to get “Supply a Smile” operational within the next six months.  Contact CCIA for more information about how to get involved.

NEW RESOURCE COORDINATOR

Maggie Wiegand prefers to see herself as the “schlepper” for CCIA and allowing others to be the “thinkers”.  As Resource Coordinator for Canandaigua Churches in Action, Maggie expects to do much of the heavy lifting between the volunteers who staff the various ministries and the directors who guide their work.  That heavy lifting includes everything from revamping the Volunteer Handbook to getting better acquainted with CCIA’s neighbors at 120 North Main St. and beyond.

“My heart is for building communities”, Maggie explains in discussing the different churches who provide volunteers for CCIA.  “Everyone has good ideas for making our ministries work well”.  Maggie hopes to encourage more sharing among supporting churches to strengthen our ministry.  It’s clear that she views her job as building on what already works.  As she said, “This is a well-oiled machine now and I see no need to change the oil!”

Since the position of Resource Coordinator came without a job description, Maggie has been working with the Board of Directors and with CCIA volunteers to gain an understanding of how CCIA operates.  One of her first duties will be to update the Volunteer Handbook, solidifying policies and procedures.  Volunteer training should emphasize the need for safety and confidentiality for both volunteers and clients. 

She would like to include a new volunteer application to help in matching volunteers’ talents and interests with the appropriate ministries.   Her hope is to be the first point of contact for anyone wishing to become a volunteer at CCIA.

When asked about her vision for the future Maggie said that she would like to encourage others to suggest ideas for ministry.  She can see the possibility for more volunteer positions in the new dental clinic, or potentially with hospice care.  “We are all one body, and everyone has a contribution to make” she explains. 

Maggie retired from teaching at Canandaigua Academy in 2002, and since then she has been busy volunteering.  When asked if she is a Canandaigua native she laughs, saying, “Oh no, I could never claim that title!”  Although she was raised in the Fort Collins, Colorado area, Maggie loves the Finger Lakes and considers this her long-time home.  When not volunteering, Maggie enjoys her garden, traveling and her friends.  

MEET THE STAFF    

The Thompson Clinic at CCIA is privileged to have a wonderful provider to care for its patients:  Emily Coria, Family Nurse Practitioner.  Emily Coria joined Thompson Health last July with the opening of the Thompson Clinic.  She also works part time at Thompson’s Urgent Care Center and Health Works, occupational medicine program, in Farmington.

Currently living in Honeoye Falls, Emily grew up in Maryland and obtained her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in nursing from Andrews University and University of Maryland, respectively.  Emily says she chose to advance her career in nursing so she, “could have greater responsibility for and impact on her patient’s health.”  Her nursing career has taken her to Texas, Maine and Maryland, but most recently, she has worked in the Emergency Department at the University of Rochester Medical Center and as an adjunct faculty clinical instructor for nursing students at St. John Fisher College.

Emily is fluent in Spanish and enjoys learning about other cultures and loves to travel when she can.  In her spare time, Emily also enjoys spending time with her husband and two children, traveling, reading, and watching baseball.  For Emily, “really helping someone who needs it” is the most satisfying part of her work at the Thompson Clinic at CCIA.  Yet, she says, many people don’t know the work we do.  With more visibility and personal contact with patients who could benefit, Emily believes the clinic could really grow and meet its mission of serving the community.

WHO MAKES UP THE CCIA MEMBERS?

The following Canandaigua area churches are members of CCIA, and serve on its board.
• Chapin United Methodist Church- rep-TBD
• Crosswinds Wesleyan Church--Ronda Barton- rep.
• First United Methodist Church-Robert Andrews- rep.
• Good Shepherd Lutheran Church-Ronald Chapman-rep.
• Lifespring Community Church-(Formally Cdga. Baptist)-Duncan Rioch-rep. and Board chairman
• New Covenant Baptist Church-Rev. Steve Charles-rep.
• St.Brendan’s Christian Fellowship-Rev. Max Bishop-rep.
• St. John’s Episcopal Church- Brian Harvey-rep.
• St. Mary’s Catholic Church- Teresa Pare and Dr. Steve Uebbing-reps.
• United Church-Jim Chalfant-rep.
• Zion Fellowship –Rev. Jeff Lippincott-rep. and Interim Director of CCIA

Two new member churches joining CCIA, Door to Hope and Holy Redeemer Anglican Church, will be appointing representatives to the board for the 2010-2011 year.