La Clínica del Cariño Receives Large Donation of Dental Supplies

Peter Owens of Patterson Dental Supply and Tony Freni of La Clínica unload donated home dental supplies

Hood River, OR - La Clínica del Cariño's efforts to prevent dental disease got a big boost Thursday with a large donation from Patterson Dental Supply.

Peter Owens, territory representative from Patterson, brought a truckload of child-sized toothbrushes, tubes of toothpaste, and bottles of oral rinse to the clinic.

The clinic will distribute these home dental supplies later this summer as part of its Gorge-wide dental outreach program.

A primary target for the outreach teams is the estimated 10,000 people who will come to the Gorge during June to harvest cherries.

Each summer, staff from La Clínica visit every cherry orchard in The Dalles area to help migrant worker families attend to their health care needs.

"We have learned over the years that dental treatment and prevention is the greatest unmet health need in our community," said Lorena Sprager, co-director of one of La Clínica's health promotion programs.

Toña Sanchez, a health promoter for La Clínica for the past 14 years, added that "people can be healthier if they have the tools to prevent health problems."

Each outreach team that visits agricultural workers this summer will carry packets including toothpaste, toothbrushes, and information about maintaining good oral health.

"This is an astounding gift," said Dr. Elizabeth Aughney, La Clínica's Dental Director. "So many families in our community lack the disposable income to keep themselves supplied with toothbrushes and toothpaste. We are eager to distribute this huge donation to people in need."

La Clínica del Cariño provides dental and medical treatment at or below cost. La Clínica del Cariño has operated its non-profit community health centers, in Hood River and The Dalles, for the past twenty years.
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CONTACT: Daniel Ward, Executive Director
(541) 308-8354

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