SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) — Veterans in need of dental work will have a new stop Thursday.
For the 10th straight year, Eastwood Dental Office is offering a free walk-in clinic on Veterans Day. Dr. Joan Laura began offering the clinic to honor her father and grandfather, who fought in the Korean War and World War I respectively.
Laura said the event has grown significantly in the last 10 years.
“The very first year we did it we saw seven people, and I was very thankful,” Laura said. “And then we saw 24, now we see about 40 every year and a lot of the same veterans come back.”
The office has spread word of the event through several veteran-focused organizations. They send flyers to Clear Path for Veterans, a non-profit organization in Chittenango, and the VA Medical Center to ensure veterans are aware of the opportunity.
Tina Mannise, the office’s manager, said Eastwood loves helping on the holiday given many veterans have no resources for dental work.
“A lot of them don’t have insurance,” Mannise said. “And the VA doesn’t offer dental, so we all love helping and helping the vets and seeing them and doing what we can on that day.”
Laura said the office has already received many calls from veterans in need. She expects this year’s clinic to be the biggest turnout yet. To prepare, Eastwood is hiring extra hygienists to work on Thursday.
Veterans can choose to receive a cleaning, filling or extraction. Laura said veterans are often surprised to learn they can receive these services for free.
“They’re always so amazed that I’m doing this, and to me, what I do, and what they have done, there’s no comparison,” she said. “Again, it’s a spit in the ocean for me to just do some free dentistry for people.”
Laura said the office has developed relationships with several veterans who come in each year. These veterans have been integral to spreading awareness of the opportunity through word of mouth.
While the veterans are always quick to express their gratitude, Laura said the clinic is just another way of doing what she does best.
“Dentistry is what I do all day long,” she said. “To me, it’s not going above or beyond, it’s just doing what I do best. These men and women have gone above and beyond, far, far more than just a free cleaning or extraction.”
