Give Kids A Smile

Description

Give Kids A Smile (GKAS), a 501c3 non-profit, delivers bi-annual dental clinics providing quality full-service dentistry and dental education to underserved children 12 months old to 8 th grade (maximum age: 14 years old) each year in the fall and winter. GKAS originated in St. Louis, Missouri in 2002 as a community outreach program of the Greater St. Louis Dental Society. Children are our most vulnerable population and access to dental care is a challenge for families with public or no dental insurance. Give Kids A Smile understands that dental care is not always a priority and that shelter and food come before dental hygiene.

Since the inception of Give Kids A Smile, it has treated close to 38,000 children with over $10 million in dental care and related services. As the founding chapter, St. Louis is now the primary training center for Give Kids A Smile events nationwide. We are now implementing a program to educate the senior adult members of each child's family called "Grandparent's Station". This program is continually evolving and is educating grandparents on dental health and hygiene through literature and dental supplies.

In addition to our two annual clinics, Give Kids A Smile provides community dental health education year-round through distribution of oral health supplies for various schools, community organizations and community events.