At this week's Rotary meeting, Al Olsen, a volunteer at the Caring Hand's Dental Clinic, shared information about the non-profit dental service where lower income patients of all ages are provided with limited dental procedures.
The idea started in 2002 when local dentists, such as Rotarian Joe Haack, began a call rotation at the Douglas County Hospital emergency room to help the patients who would go there for help for dental problems.
Focusing on urgent care, public education and recruitment of new dentists, the Task Force of the West Central Dental Resources began researching locations for a dental clinic. With support from the community it became a reality.
The Caring Hands Dental Clinic is located in Suite 44 of the Marion Building. The clinic has 3 fully equipped examining rooms and is open only on Fridays. Booked solid with a waiting list, the clinic sees patients of all ages. Dentists such as Rotary's Joe Haack donate their time on Friday's to help the clinic's patients.