KinderSmile Student Volunteers Log 500+ Community Service Hours

KinderSmile Community Service Learning Program (CSLP) volunteers should be proud of the work accomplished and their hundreds of service hours contributed. Since the start of 2017, twenty-seven high school, college and graduate students pursuing internships or volunteer work with KinderSmile Foundation have reported 512 hours of community service.

Without the CSLP volunteers, KinderSmile projects would take longer to finish, young patients would lose valuable chances for oral health education and numerous students in child care centers and elementary schools would not be able to interact with these spirited, committed future dentists and healthcare professionals.

“We represent ourselves but we also represent KinderSmile Foundation,” one volunteer stated.

It is so good to see CSLP in action at area schools. Recently, I accompanied these young oral health educators to the Gordon Parks Academy in East Orange, NJ, where, armed with an oversize puppet (a dragon with huge teeth), a gigantic toothbrush for the dragon, youth toothbrushes to distribute to students, and much knowledge, they commanded the attention of two separate groups of 160 students, teachers, and administrators. I was proud, as an administrator and as a teacher.

The college academic year is almost over. Some of the CSLP volunteers will be continuing, others will be leaving to attend dental school or graduate school. What an outstanding year—the first in our own dental home. We thank them during this #NationalVolunteerWeek and all the weeks in 2017 which they have worked towards giving kids a dental head start in our community.

Interested in volunteering with KinderSmile Foundation? We are looking for new Summer/Fall interns and community ambassadors. Apply online at www.kindersmile.org/programs/cslp/apply.