Gift from the Heart Provides Free Dental Care at Belleville's Bridge Hub
Low-income residents received free dental treatment as part of a new collaboration between two local Belleville organizations. On Friday, volunteers from Gift from the Heart, a charity offering free dental services to those in need, brought their mobile clinic to The Bridge Integrated Care Hub on South Church Street.
Although the two groups share clients, this was the first time Gift from the Heart provided care at The Bridge. Bev Woods, the charity’s founder in 2007 and now outgoing executive director, explained the effort is focused on reaching people unable to visit their clinic.
“Any treatment that you could have done at a traditional dental office, we can do from here,” she said before the work began.
First to be treated was Robert, a senior citizen from Belleville, who had seven remaining lower teeth extracted. He shared that he had needed this care for many years.
“I’m on ODSP (Ontario Disability Support Program benefits) and Canada Pension, so I can’t afford a dentist,” he said, “and this one here is free of charge … which I do appreciate.
“The application process is quite simple, and they help out with it. It’s actually new to me … having it done for free, versus maybe paying out of pocket so much money – money I don’t have.”
Summary: The partnership between Gift from the Heart and The Bridge hub expands access to free dental care for economically disadvantaged residents in Belleville.