First Nebraska Mission of Mercy a huge success

North Platte, NE (2005) - The first two-day Nebraska Mission of Mercy (NMOM) event saw over 900 patients resulting in an estimated $356,750 in free dental care.  “The event certainly met, and without question, exceeded all expectations,” said Dr. Jim Jenkins, one of the event organizers.  The inaugural event which began Friday and continued through Saturday, (Oct. 20-21) provided free dental care to anyone who walked through the D and N Event Center doors in North Platte.

Photo at left, Dr. Teresa Poorman of Kearney, left, and her assistant Susi Gonzalez of Lexington perform dental work on Daisy Madrigal of Lexington. Photo by Beth Gilbert.

Over 75 dentists, 63 dental assistants, 31 hygienists, 50 office staff, and well over 200 non-dental community volunteers dedicated two days of their time to make the event possible. In addition, it took a small army of staff and helpers along with 8 consultants from the Kansas Mission of Mercy group, and a semi trailer load of loaned dental equipment to turn the event center into an organized high-volume dental clinic. 

When the doors opened at 5:30 a.m. on Friday morning, patients walked into a transformed dental facility equipped with numerous dental work stations, an area for sterilization, curtained areas for oral surgery and children’s dentistry, a staffed child care center, and free food for the patients and their families.

By the end of the day on Friday, the clinic had served 437 patients resulting in an estimated $198,115 of free dental care. Preliminary totals from Saturday’s session indicate that the group saw 463 patients and generated an additional estimated $158,635 in free dental care. Final totals will be confirmed early next week.

Overall, this has simply been amazing,” remarked Dr. Jim States (left, helping Missy Keller stock tables for dispensing during NMOM, photo by Beth Gilbert). Dr. States, a North Platte dentist served to coordinate the local effort.  “There isn’t a volunteer here that hasn’t had their heart warmed, in one way or another.  We hope that we’ve helped hundreds of people.”

The event could not have occurred without the help the Kansas Dental Association and the West Central District Health Department. The Kansas Dental Association provided portable dentist chairs along with equipment and supplies to help the Nebraska Mission of Mercy take place, they also brought a staff of volunteers who helped treat the many patients who were provided dental care at this weekend’s event.  The West Central District Health Deparment coordinated over 200 non-dental volunteers to staff all other areas of the event.

The big question has been are we going to do it again, and if so where?” said David O’Doherty, Executive Director of the Nebraska Dental Association.  “The answer is ‘yes’. The NMOM Committee met recently and have selected Grand Island, Nebraska as the next NMOM site for September 2006."

The entire Nebraska Mission of Mercy event was privately funded.  No local, state, or federal monies were involved. Funding for the project came through local and statewide donations from dentists, businesses and private individuals who had never seen such an event, but took a leap of faith and made a financial commitment of support, said Dr. States.