Grant Helps Fish For Teeth Maintain Services

Dental Appointments Available, Fish Tacos On Friday

From Fish For Teeth

Fish for Teeth is continuing its tooth-fixing mission by bringing the Medical Teams International Mobile Dental Van to Friday Harbor from Wednesday, Jan. 13-Saturday, Jan. 16.

There are still a few appointments available on Friday, Jan. 15 and Saturday, Jan. 16. Apply at fishforteeth.com or at the San Juan County Health Department, or San Juan Island Family Resource Center.

Fish for Teeth serves individuals who do not have dental insurance and cannot afford dental care.

There are no income restrictions, as Fish for Teeth seeks to fill the gap of those “in the middle” between qualifying for government-funded programs and being able to independently afford needed care for themselves or their families.

If you are in need of dental care and haven’t seen a dentist because you cannot afford it, then you should apply to Fish for Teeth.

Those on Medicare are also welcome to apply. Fish for Teeth realizes there are very few dentists on the islands who accept Medicare-funded patients. Islanders must go off-island (and miss a day of work) in order to find a dentist who will accept Medicare; most people cannot afford that option and wind up living with a toothache.

Fish Tacos

Fish Tacos will be at the San Juan Island Community Theatre on Friday, Jan. 15 from 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m., or until they sell out.

Fish for Teeth exists because there is a tremendous need in San Juan County. Fish for Teeth has been sponsoring the MTI Dental Van since 2012, paying for it by accepting donations for Fish Tacos three times a year. Unsolicited donations by individuals in our community help fill the gap where Fish Tacos fall short.

Grant

The MTI Dental Van has been coming four times per year, and Fish for Teeth plans on keeping that schedule even though Covid-compliancy means the dental van can only utilize one of the two dental chairs available, which reduces the patients by half. Instead of fulfilling half the need, Fish for Teeth has doubled-down and is hosting the dental van for twice as long.

Through a grant from the North Sound Accountable Communities of Health Oral Health Local Impact Network, funded by Arcora, the same amount of islanders will be served by bringing the van to San Juan Island for four days instead of the usual two days. The ACH grant does not cover all the costs, so Fish for Teeth will keep to our grindstone, cranking out Fish Tacos to pay the bills that will make this service possible (and accepting donations from individuals).

Volunteers

Kiwanis Club of Friday Harbor is a key contributor to making Fish Tacos happen.  Kiwanis appear like food-service Angles, creating miracles in the fish taco realm.

Many other local businesses contribute to Fish for Teeth as well; an incomplete list of thank-yous goes to: Friday Harbor Suites, Mullis Senior Center, SJI Community Theater, American Legion Post 163, FH Grange, Cynthia’s Bistro, Port of Friday Harbor, Earth Box Suites, Friday Harbor Seafood, Sasha’s Island Transport, Pablito’s Salsa, FH Ace Hardware… And a very abbreviated list of individuals: Dr. Michael Horn, DDS, Sandy Rabinowitz, Kristen Rezabeck, Charlene Rhodes, Hayley Day, Sara Younglove, Aimee Urata, Don Chenowith…

It takes a village to provide good dental care for all on San Juan Island, and thanks to our generous community we are achieving that goal. If you value the efforts of Fish for Teeth and would like to lend financial support, please donate at fishforteeth.com, or mail a check to PO Box 2084 Friday Harbor 98250.

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