Due to an abundance of caution around the COVID-19 pandemic, the VDA Foundation has decided to cancel this year's Wise Mission of Mercy (MOM) clinic scheduled for July 10-11. Relatedly, the Health Wagon has also cancelled this year’s Move Mountains Medical Mission (M7), which was to be held the same weekend. The free multi-day annual summer events, which have been held for the past twenty years, have been cancelled due to public health considerations regarding large public gatherings amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

“After convening the Wise Mission of Mercy dental clinic since 2000, we are saddened to cancel this year’s event. However, our greatest concern is the overall safety of our patients and volunteers. The VDAF knows that so many across Southwest Virginia remain desperately in need of dental care and we anxiously await the time when we can return to help relieve their pain,” said Tara Quinn, VDAF Executive Director.

 

Both the Health Wagon and the VDA Foundation will begin planning for next year’s events shortly.

 

Relatedly, the VDAF's 2020 Western Tidewater and Special Olympics MOM projects in April and June, respectively, have also been cancelled amid the pandemic.

 

Created in 2000 by Dr. Terry Dickinson, past executive director of the Virginia Dental Association, the Mission of Mercy (MOM) program operates mobile clinics to offer free dental services throughout Virginia. The program has provided over $47.4 million in dental care to over 68,000 patients. For more information about the Virginia Dental Association Foundation and to donate to its programs, visit www.vdaf.org.