Faith gives wings to Good Samaritan Dental Clinic in Orange City

BEACON PHOTO/PAT HATFIELD
Sign here, please — Good Samaritan Dental Clinic coordinator Martha Aldrich is still looking for a few good dentists, hygienists, assistants and receptionists for the new clinic at 1245 S. Volusia Ave. in Orange City. Call (386) 218-5977 for more information, or to volunteer.

BEACON PHOTO/PAT HATFIELD
Topic of discussion — Father Tom Connery of St. Peter Catholic Church in DeLand, left, and Pastor John Joslin of Oasis in DeLand, talk dental during an open house at Good Samaritan Dental Clinic in Orange City Aug. 20. Behind them is Orange City dentist Dr. Michael Kelly, who worked with Connery and the Good Samaritan team to found the dental clinic.

BEACON PHOTO/PAT HATFIELD
Group smile — Good Samaritan Health Clinic Administrator Mary Gusky, left, dental-clinic coordinator Chantell Martin and her husband, Phil Martin, who is also a DeLand city commissioner, and Good Samaritan volunteer Joan Kinsey and her husband, Bob Kinsey, a deacon at St. Peter Catholic Church in DeLand, share a moment of joy over Good Samaritan's new dental clinic in Orange City.

BEACON PHOTO/PAT HATFIELD
Hug of appreciation — Dr. Edward Zwicker, right, gives Dr. Herminia Rodriguez a hug of appreciation during an Aug. 20 open house for the new Good Samaritan Dental Clinic in Orange City. Rodriguez, a dentist, donated a lot of equipment from her office to the new faith-based enterprise.

By Pat Hatfield
BEACON STAFF WRITER

posted Aug 27, 2009 - 9:05:07am

Good Samaritan Dental Clinic in Orange City is set to open Monday, Sept. 14, and anticipation is running high.

The all-volunteer staff is hoping to sign up some more dentists, technicians and office workers who will donate time to the faith-based effort. The dental clinic, like Good Samaritan Health Clinic in DeLand, will offer its services to those who have no insurance or other resources to pay for dental care. Patients must live in West Volusia and must qualify financially.

The dental clinic will be open 6-9 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays and 9 a.m.-noon Fridays.

For more information, or to get qualification forms, call (386) 218-5977. Paperwork can also be picked up at Good Samaritan Health Clinic in DeLand at 312 W. New York Ave., between 3 and 5 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

The dental clinic, at 1245 S. Volusia Ave. in Orange City, sprang from the conviction and determination of Father Tom Connery of St. Peter Catholic Church in DeLand, the volunteers at Good Samaritan Health Clinic in DeLand, and Orange City dentist Dr. Michael Kelly.

The faith-based Good Samaritan Health Clinic is approaching its second anniversary. The need for dental services loomed as a critical health need for many of the clinic’s patients, but there was nowhere for them to turn.

The Health Department provides services to children through the Medicaid program. None of the dentists knew of any programs in Volusia or nearby counties providing dental services to needy adults.

Volunteers Chantell Martin and Martha Aldrich, both members of Stetson Baptist Church in DeLand, coordinated two visits this year from the Florida Baptist Convention’s traveling dental bus.

They were swamped with requests for dental care. They also saw needs that couldn’t be addressed adequately in the spartan bus.

A permanent dental clinic was needed, they decided.

There was none in the area. A dental clinic is more difficult to set up than even a medical clinic, because of the plumbing and specialized equipment needed.

A search committee composed of Martin, Aldrich, Connery, Good Samaritan Administrator Mary Gusky, Dr. Michael Kelly, Dr. Edward Zwicker, Dr. April Flutie, Dr. Mac Steen, Dr. Larry Gilliard, dental hygienists Susan Wilson, Barbara Balzer and Kris Jancha, and dental-supply specialist Brian Gregory went to work this spring.

The committee decided on the Orange City site. It had last been home to dentist Dr. Herminia Rodriguez, and had already been set up with the needed plumbing. She was also willing to donate much of the equipment in the facility. Dr. Frank Reynolds of Ormond Beach donated more.

The landlord was willing to give the charitable group a break on the rent, charging them only $750 a month.

Mary Gusky said signing a lease was a leap of faith, but one the group is willing to take.

“Worry is a sign of unbelief. The Lord will provide for the clinic. We have to do the right things in the right way, and God will provide,” she said.

Volunteers painted and spruced up the facility. Many business people donated materials, services and funds, including: Jeff Malmborg Construction Inc.,Creative Design Fine Cabinetry Inc., Goff Ace Hardware, Morris Sign Co., First Quality Plumbing, Henderson Electric, Prestige Carpet, Hang ’N’ Shine Blinds, Home Improvement and Repair Services Plus, Comfort Service Air Conditioning and Heating Inc., Mainstreet Grill, Mike Brennan, Lee Britton and family, Susan and Dennis Wilson, and Susan Bauerle.

— pat@beacononlinenews.com

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