Kids Smiles’ Far-reaching Donations

The Homeless Health Initiative (HHI) was very appreciative of an enormous donation of toothpaste offered by Kids Smiles to be shared with children in need. Kids Smiles is a nonprofit dental services provider with the goal of having every child receive dental care.

HHI was able to share this donation of toothpaste with children residing in HHI partner shelters including PEC, Jane Addams Place, St. Barnabas Mission, and Families Forward Philadelphia.

HHI also shared some of the donated toothpaste with CHOP Global Health through the Health Allies team. The Allies program recruits and trains CHOP employees for trips to Consuelo, Dominican Republic, where CHOP operates a pediatric clinic and facilitates education for local clinicians and health promoters who, in turn, work with community members.

In November, an Allies team took the donated toothpaste to Consuelo. The team held several community health fairs in some of the poorest neighborhoods in Consuelo, promoting basic health education, preventive care and screenings. During the course of the week, the team weighed, took blood pressure, and applied fluoride to the teeth of nearly 600 community members. Most of the participants were children who, thanks in part to this donation, received a toothbrush and toothpaste to reinforce the preventive healthcare and hygiene message.