PRESS RELEASE: 20th CT MISSION OF MERCY FREE DENTAL CLINIC COMING TO E.O. SMITH HIGH SCHOOL IN STORRS, CT

[Mary Brennan Coursey]

Dear News Editors, 

Please help us get the word out for the 20th Annual CT Mission of Mercy Free Dental Clinic coming to Storrs, CT in April.  Photos & video from past clinics and Interviews with organizers, volunteers, and former patients are available upon request.  Thank you for your consideration.  

PRESS RELEASE                                          Contact:  Mary Coursey 

                                                                                             860-305-0476

                                                                                     ma...@courseyco.com

         

20^th CT MISSION OF MERCY FREE DENTAL CLINIC COMING TO E.O. SMITH HIGH SCHOOL IN STORRS, CT

1,200 PATIENTS TO BE TREATED

Two-day clinic begins Friday, April 17, 2026

 

STORRS, CT – MARCH 10, 2026 – The Connecticut Foundation for Dental Outreach announced today that it will host its 20th Connecticut Mission of Mercy Free Dental Clinic (CTMOM) on Friday, April 17, and Saturday, April 18, at E.O. Smith High School, 1235 Storrs Road, Storrs, Connecticut.

 

"CTMOM is committed to improving the quality of life for all we treat through necessary dental care. Storrs Village in the Town of Mansfield, CT, is well poised to help us extend our mission to as many patients as possible,” said Dr. Laurence Levy, Chair of the Connecticut Foundation for Dental Outreach (CFDO).

 

CTMOM provides dental services to underserved adults and children who cannot afford care. Doors open daily at 7:00 a.m., and the clinic operates on a first-come, first-served basis, with free dental care expected for about 1,200 patients over two days. It will feature 80 dental stations staffed by 800 volunteers. The clinic offers a wide range of services, including exams, X-rays, cleanings, extractions, fillings, limited root canals on front teeth and premolars, and limited interim partial dentures and repairs. 

“As the local governmental department of public health, the Eastern Highlands Health District serves a diverse population across eastern Connecticut, including many rural and semi-rural communities where residents face persistent barriers to accessing affordable and timely healthcare,” said Robert Miller, Director of Health. “Challenges such as lack of insurance, limited provider availability, transportation constraints, and financial hardship continue to contribute to health inequities in our region. Programs like the CT Mission of Mercy play a critical role by providing high-quality, compassionate dental care to individuals in need.”

 

“We are thrilled to bring the CTMOM Free Dental Clinic to eastern Connecticut again, providing essential dental care to those who need it most,” said Lisa Perry, Executive Director of the CFDO. “Access to dental care is vital to overall health, and with the generosity of our volunteers and partners, we can offer life-changing services to individuals and families in underserved communities. Our goal is to ensure that everyone, regardless of their financial situation, receives the care they deserve.”

 

“We are deeply grateful to our generous donors and supporters for making CTMOM possible,” Perry added. “Thanks to your contributions, we can change lives, restore smiles, and improve the health of individuals and families in need in an area where dental utilization is the lowest in the state. The clinic is a testament to the power of community, and we couldn’t do it without you.”  

 

The CTMOM Free Dental Clinic is seeking volunteers – dental and medical professionals, as well as community volunteers of all backgrounds. To learn more about the types of help needed and to register as a volunteer, please visit www.ctmom.org. Registration is open until March 24.

 

Individual and corporate donations are needed to support the clinic. To contribute, please visit www.cfdo.org or call (860) 863-5940. 

 

To date, the 2026 CTMOM Free Dental Clinic has been generously supported by the following major donors:

 

The State of Connecticut: Department of Public Health, Steven and Alexandra Cohen Foundation, Integrity Systems and Solutions, LLC, WFSB Eyewitness News 3, The Koopman Share of the Beatrice Fox Auerbach Foundation the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, Henry Schein Dental, Probono Partnership, The Connecticut State Dental Association, Siracusa Moving & Storage, Rapoport Family Fund, Barbara Ellen Miller Charitable Foundation, The Cigna Group, Dexis, BFA Endowment Fund: Elizabeth Shiro at Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, BFA Endowment Fund: Jean Shiro Zavela at Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, Stanley D. and Hinda N. Fisher Fund at Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, Webster Bank, Patterson Dental, The Kitchings Foundation, Jeffrey and Nancy Hoffman, Benecare Dental Plans, Henry Schein Cares Foundation.   

 

For a complete list of CTMOM supporters and more information about the clinic, visit our website at www.ctmom.org or follow us on Facebook at @CTMOMFreeDentalClinic for important clinic updates. For those needing transportation to the clinic, visit https://www.cttransit.com for a complete list of bus schedules to Storrs, or to plan your trip. 

 

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About CTMOM

The Connecticut Mission of Mercy Free Dental Clinic is affectionately referred to as CTMOM. The two-day clinic provides free dental care to the underserved and uninsured in Connecticut—those who would otherwise go without dental care. Oral health is inseparable from general health and can affect a person’s self-esteem and compromise their ability to work, attend school, and lead a normal life. The Connecticut Foundation for Dental Outreach (CFDO), in collaboration with the Connecticut State Dental Association (CSDA), held the state’s first Mission of Mercy project in 2008. Every year, the CTMOM clinic is held in a different location throughout the state.