Support Deandra Williams' Dental Mission to Jamaica

For those who do not know me already, my name is Deandra Williams and I am a rising 4th-year dental student at Meharry Medical College!

I have been selected as 1 of 25 dental students to join the JAAC (Jamaica Awareness Association of California) on a one-week mission trip to provide free dental services to several parishes across the country: Manchester, St. Elizabeth, Westmoreland, St. James, Trelawny, St. Mary, and Portland.

My parents were born in the beautiful country of Jamaica. My father was born in St. Andrews in 1957, while my mother was born in Spanish Town in 1967.

Being born in the United States, I grew up with a strong Jamaican culture, eating traditional Jamaican food, listening to Jamaican music, and following Jamaican customs virtually every day. In addition to translating for my parents due to their thick accents! My grandmother passed on in October 2023 and was laid to rest in the parish of Old Harbour, Jamaica. I know she would be so proud of me coming home to help out fellow Jamaicans.

My first experience in dentistry started at the St. Petersburg Free Dental Clinic. At the clinic, I began as a greeter. About three months into active volunteering, I began to master chair-side assisting abilities, such as filling and extraction setups. Volunteering was a life-changing and unforgettable experience for me, cementing my passion for dentistry.

I hope that creating this GoFundMe page will help ease financial stress of travel expenses, housing expenses, and dental supplies this summer and provide me with a seamless opportunity to travel to my country of origin to service to mankind.