The Kansas Mission of Mercy will provide free dental care today and Saturday at the U.S. National Guard Armory located east of Manhattan on U.S. Highway 24.
Doors will open at 5:30 a.m. both days and patients are seen on a first come, first serve basis. There are no eligibility or income requirements to receive dental care, and appointments are not needed. Children and adults will be able to have cleanings, fillings and extractions performed.
The armory will house 72 dental-operation stations. The event is expected to provide about $1 million in free dental care to about 2,000 people, according to the Kansas Dental Charitable Foundation, the event's organizers.
"Since we began this effort in 2003, we have treated nearly 15,000 patients with services valued at $6.4 million," said Gregg Hill, executive director of the Kansas Dental Charitable Foundation, in a video message to volunteers. "What you will see in Manhattan is very unique and we are very excited about it."
About 800 volunteers will work at the Mission of Mercy Clinic throughout the two-day event. The event will be the eighth annual Kansas Mission of Mercy Clinic since it was created by the Kansas Dental Charitable Foundation.
There will also be items for sale to raise money for future KMOM events. Children who attended a previous KMOM clinic contributed dozens of drawings and a few were selected to be made into 18-by-24 inch posters. The Kansas Dental Charitable Foundation will be selling the posters for $20 each, with proceeds supporting dental health in Kansas.
