The North Carolina Dental Society Foundation is honoring troops by donating more than 1,300 lbs. of oral health essentials to the USO of NC.
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Media Contact: Olivia Leathers
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NC Soldiers Receive Over 1,300 Pounds of Dental Supplies for Veteran’s Day
CARY, N.C. – The North Carolina Dental Society Foundation is honoring troops by donating more than 1,300 lbs. of oral health essentials to the USO of North Carolina. Toothbrushes, toothpaste, floss, mouthwash and sugar free gum were collected for military servicemen to help troops maintain their oral health during training and deployment.
This fall, The NC Dental Society Foundation kicked off its fourth annual Dental Supply Drive in collaboration with USO of North Carolina. Across the state, NC Dental Society members, dental students and community partners made financial contributions and collected dental supplies. Over 100 participating dental practices and organizations donated oral care supplies to support the cause.
North Carolina is home to the fourth largest military population in the United States, and dentists and community members were eager to participate and give back to our armed forces. One determined high school student in Cary, Nihar Thakkar, spent his summer researching community grants, canvassing dental offices, and local stores in the Triangle. His commitment to the program resulted in six community organizations awarding grants to the Dental Supply Drive, and more than 92 lbs. of dental supplies.
Students from East Carolina University School of Dental Medicine, University of North Carolina Adams School of Dentistry, and the Rowan Cabarrus Community College Dental Assisting Program also joined the cause. “Having dentists, dental schools, and members of the community come together for this collection for the USO of NC fulfills a critical need to our servicemen and women, and it is our way of saying thank you,” said Laura Ridgeway, Executive Director of the NC Dental Society Foundation.
For more information about the North Carolina Society Foundation and its annual Dental Supply Drive, please visit https://ncdentalfoundation.org/programs/#uso.
About the North Carolina Dental Society Foundation
The North Carolina Dental Society Foundation is the charitable arm of the North Carolina Dental Society. Its mission is to improve the oral health of North Carolinians through education and support of programs that improve access to dental care. To date, it has provided nearly $50 million in free dental care to more than 250,000 patients. The NC Dental Society Foundation remains committed to serving strategic populations through the work of its outreach programs. For more information, visit ncdentalfoundation.org/give.