Donated: $500,000 in free dental care-About 1,100 patients were treated during the two-day event held at Hedgesville High.

By Jillian E. Kesner / Journal Staff Writer

HEDGESVILLE -The volunteers have been counted, the hours tabulated and dollars and figures rang up in the first-ever community-wide dental service outreach in the Eastern Panhandle.

United Way of the Eastern Panhandle reported Tuesday the equivalent of more than $500,000 in free dental work was given over the two-day Mission of Mercy project held last Friday and Saturday. More than 1,100 patients were seen during the clinic.

According to Jan Callen, executive director of UWEP, the monetary value of the volunteer hours added up to $350,000 from dentists, hygenists, dental students and from general volunteers who helped with parking, set-up and even emptying the trash.

A total of 711 volunteers, including dental, medical and general logged nearly 8,000 hours as part of the outreach program.

"It's a dream come true to be able to put a smile on people's faces," said Betty Russell, wife of local oral surgeon Dean Russell.

Russell, who helped organize the event, said it ran so smoothly it was like music.

"It's the most awesome experience I've ever had," said Russell, who has previously been involved in two MOM projects. "You don't realize what it's all about until you see one," she said.

Russell said through this project, the need for access to dental care was brought to the people.

"It was a combination of a village coming together," she said.

Callen said he always knew the Eastern Panhandle was a caring community, but this event confirmed it.

"We had a very strong spirit of volunteerism," Callen said. "This was the first time we were able to capture and log the hours."

Callen said that his position of executive director of the United Way inolves bringing people together for a common goal.

"It was a privilege to be a volunteer," Callen said. "It was an honor to be there."

According to Russell, all the volunteers said that they would be back to do it again.

UWEP is already working to organize a second event to be held next year.

- Staff Writer Jillian E. Kesner can be reached at (304) 263-8931, ext. 215, or jkesner@journal-news.net