Container needed for Cornish dental enterprise to help those in need
'Smile Together' is looking to distribute 4000 oral health packages across the Duchy but has nowhere to store the items
Last updated 5th Jan 2021
A dental enterprise in Cornwall is urging anyone who has a 20ft container to come forward as it gears up to distribute oral health items to those in need.
'Smile Together' is commissioned by NHS England to provide complex special community and emergency dentistry for patients across Cornwall in the Isles of Scilly.
As part of it's 'Brighter Smiles' oral health program, the organisation put aside some additional funding this year to enable them to make up about 4000 oral health packs made up toothbrushes, toothpaste, two minute timers and oral health advice and guidance.
The plan is to then distribute these through its teams to food banks across the county to support homeless charities, such as St Petrocs.
However, they have been unable to find appropriate, secure and dry storage to keep the items in, making it hard to send them out to vulnerable people across the Duchy.
"The problem we've got is ordering that amount of oral health items, we need some secure, dry storage and ideally, we thought it would be so great to provide ourselves with a 20ft container that we could locate at our dental centre in Bodmin but it's proving really hard to find.
"There seems to be a real shortage of these and we just wondered if someone could help us even temporarily between now and April/May time to store these items so we can get them out to the vulnerable communities that need them."
Tracy Wilson, Smile Together Cornwall
Bosses from the dental enterprise say it's really important to distribute these pack as its 'Brighter Smiles' teams are not able to visit schools, nurseries and family health services due to the latest coronavirus lockdown.
During the first lockdown in March, they started to hand items out to homeless charities which received a positive reception. This is what has inspired them to try to do more this new year.
"When you're really desperate and trying to put food on the table for your family it's really hard to go without oral health items but actually, you need to look after your teeth and even the littlest teeth in the littlest people are so important to take care of.
"This is the sort of work is so important and it is what we've always done. We would really like to make a difference to more people so if there is anyone out there with a 20ft container, we would love them to be able to help us.
"Our teams are stood by raring to go; to make up the packs and distribute them to the food banks and charities and whoever are in need of them."
Tracy Wilson
If you think you are able to help the 'Smile Together' team, you can contact them at tracy.wilson17@nhs.net