As most of you know, after moving back to the Skagit Valley, I decided to shake things up a little and pursue a new career that would keep me closer to home.  After jumping back into school, I was accepted into the Dental Hygiene program at the Bellingham Technical College. My twelve classmates and I will graduate as fledgling hygienists in June 2018. 

Excitingly, my class is headed to Jamaica at the end of October to volunteer with the 1000 Smiles dental project, a program run by Great Shape! Inc., a charitable, non-profit organization based out of Modesto, California. 
 
The need for dental care is high in Jamaica. In fact, the WHO estimates that there is only 1 dentist for every 100,000 Jamaicans. In addition to the low availability of providers, the cost of care is disproportionately high, so the majority of individuals go without seeing a dentist. 

Throughout our 10-day stay we will provide dental care to residents living within the rural areas encompassing the city of Montego Bay.
It is estimated that during our short trip my classmates and I will give care to approximately 600 individuals in need!

Currently we are fundraising as a class and as individuals to cover the costs of our program fees, flights, and the long list of supplies we need to ship down for our week of care. This is where I ask for your help to help me reach my goal. 

Please check out the Great Shapes website to read more about 1000 smiles project. 
http://greatshapeinc.org/volunteer/1000-smiles/ 


Thank you!
Jamie