(ALLIANCE)-Volunteers are in the midst of getting everything ready for this year’s Alliance Mission of Mercy free dental care clinic, taking place Friday and Saturday, July 13th-14th. Free dental care will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis. Alliance Mission of Mercy (MOM) Community Chair D. N. Taylor Jr., DDS, says, “It is going to be hot Friday and Saturday, and we want to make sure everyone dresses accordingly and takes appropriate steps to bring whatever they need to stay cool and comfortable,” he said.

People may start lining up as early as Thursday evening at the Registration/Hospitality building (the former Alco Building, 1327 W. 3rd St., on the west side of the Alliance Plaza), so please be sure to bring everything needed for an overnight stay. Porta potties will be available. Taylor says “there will be overnight and day time security both days, provided by the Alliance Police Department, Box Butte County Sheriff Department and Nebraska State Patrol. Also, several businesses at Alliance Plaza will be open during the event as well as a number of parking spots reserved for people doing business with them. People attending Mission of Mercy are not allowed to park in the designated areas as a courtesy to those businesses.

The event will run from 5:30 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. both days. The Hospitality Committee will be available during those hours both days, both inside and outside the buildings. Taylor says, “every effort will be made to get people inside and comfortable as quickly as possible.” The facility will have a Kids Corner for games, family activities and movies. A food service area will also be available, as well as registration/waiting areas and restrooms. “It would help if people would bring a list of medications with them,” Taylor urged, “and we will be asking them to provide information about medical conditions when they are going through the dental triage process.”

After completing those procedures, escorts will be available to take patients to the dental services building located on the east side of Alliance Plaza as openings become available. “We have dentists and hygienists from Wisconsin, South Dakota, Iowa, Kansas, Colorado, Wyoming, and of course, Nebraska,” Taylor said. “We hope to serve up to 1,200 patients, from two-year-olds to adults. (Everyone) will work very diligently to treat as many patients as possible. But, please remember, this is first come, first served, so there is a possibility that those who get in line too late may not be aided. We will continue to treat until we run out of providers, or run out of time on Saturday.” There may still be a need for volunteers to assist with parking directions. If interested in helping, call facility chair Alan Cornish at 308-762-3035 or 308-760-0593. For more information on Mission of Mercy, visit their website at www.adcfmom.org.

 

--Information courtesy of Kevin Horn