By Kelsi Matylewicz and Kristie Ceruti/ TheDailyFloss.com 

Bill Hall, a Benco Dental Service Technician in the Blue Ridge Region, paid a visit to the Virginia Governor’s Mansion recently. Hall was among those honored at an awards dinner for their involvement with the Virginia Mission Of Mercy (MOM) Project. The MOM Project is a recipient of 2015 Governor’s Volunteerism and Community Service Awards.

Governor Terry McAuliffe  announced  recipients of the 2015 Governor’s Volunteerism and Community Service Awards Thursday during an awards ceremony. These awards spotlight the outstanding efforts individual and organization volunteers make on behalf of citizens throughout the Commonwealth, among them:  Virginia Dental Association Foundation Mission of Mercy (Richmond).

Mission of Mercy (MOM) provides free hands-on dental care to Virginians who suffer from unrelenting dental disease and pain but are unable to get the help they need. MOM volunteers have donated more than 160,000 hours and have served nearly 60,000 patients in communities throughout the Commonwealth. Their model has been used by 28 other states and has been recognized by the American Dental Association for its innovative approach and commitment to respectful patient care.

“Virginia volunteers embody the values of community, cooperation and service to one another that make this Commonwealth such great place to live,” said Governor Terry McAuliffe. “I am so proud to help celebrate these outstanding individuals, organizations and companies that are working every day to make life better for people in every corner of Virginia.”

Virginia Dental Association Foundation Director of Missions of Mercy Barbara Rollins spoke highly MOM volunteers, including Hall, “Congratulations to you and the 22,134+ MOM volunteers who have supported MOM since July 2000.

Benco Dental’s Dan Adair, Ted Ringsdorf, Rachel Pugh and Keely Brazil at a Mom-n-PA 2014 event in Allentown.

Your efforts, your time, your talents, and your caring for those in need have relieved suffering and given smiles back to 57,363 of Virginia’s uninsured and underinsured. You do make a difference!”

In other parts of the U.S., Mission of Mercy projects are upcoming this month. Read on to find out how to volunteer.

• The Mission of Mercy in PA organization (MOM-n-PA) is looking for volunteers for their upcoming MOM event on May28 – 30 at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex & Expo Center, North-West Hall, 2300 North Cameron Street, Harrisburg, PA 17110-9433. Follow the event  on their Facebook page or sign up to volunteer by May 17 at: https://www.mom-n-pa.com/volunteer-information/
• Rhode Island Mission of Mercy project, which provides
  

  Chair of Dental Health and Program Director of Dental Hygiene, Kathleen Gazzola, at left, notes that in collaboration with the Rhode Island Oral Health Foundation they are hosting the fourth Rhode Island Mission of Mercy here at Community College of Rhode Island. She is shown at the 2013 Mission of Mercy with a patient.

  a “sense of commitment and service with ourselves, our communities and our state” is looking for your volunteer service. When? May 29 – May 31. The event takes place at Community College of Rhode Island Flanagan Campus, 1762 Louisquisset Pike Lincoln, RI 02865. It is expected to be a very busy day with treating nearly 1,000 patients at the two-day clinic, which the CCRI Dental Hygiene Clinic will provide approximately 25 dental chairs, lights and units, digital radiography and electronic dental records. Training will be provided and all dental/medical volunteers will receive a link to a PDF information sheet from your clinical area lead as well as an orientation video. Attire is somewhat important, dental personnel should wear scrubs. If not,  whatever is most comfortable for you is acceptable but remember to wear closed-toed shoes and long pants. You do not need to bring your own instruments, but you will need to bring your own protective eyewear and meals.To learn more details about the event: https://www.rimom.org/professional-volunteer-info.htm