Big smiles from West Kootenay Community TEETH after winning $50,000 from Pacific Blue Cross
By Nelson Daily Staff
If anyone sees the people associated with the West Kootenay Community TEETH Clinic today, don’t be alarmed if they’re grinning from ear to ear.
The West Kootenay Community Teeth Clinic in Nelson made it to the top of the podium, winning the grand prize of $50,000 in a province-wide Pacific Blue Cross contest for local charities.
Pacific Blue Cross made the announcement Thursday morning in its Share The Care project, part of the not-for-profit health insurer’s plan to celebrate its 75th anniversary by giving away $75,000.
“Needless to say, we — the board, the many volunteers, Dr. Osepchook and his dental staff — are very excited about this unique success and the opportunity that it provides to the West Kootenay Community TEETH Clinic,” Eric Ramsden, Co-Chair West Kootenay Community TEETH Clinic Society, said when contacted by The Nelson Daily.
“Now that we have been confirmed in receiving the $50,000 grant from Pacific Blue Cross we’re faced with a different kind of challenge – how to best utilize these funds to provide the best possible improvement to our low cost dental services to our West Kootenay Boundary community.”
“Can we provide an additional clinic to reduce travel and bring direct services to more members of our community?” Ramsden added.
“Are we able to increase our denture program and other clinical services? So much to think about – what a great problem to have.”
West Kootenay Community TEETH Clinic Society provides low-cost dental care to families with a net income of less than $30,000 a year.
The numerous many volunteers, Dr. Osepchook and his dental staffhave joined forced with Interior Health authority and donors plans to expand services to other towns in southeastern B.C. with the money.
The Pacific Blue Cross Foundation competition selected five existing recipients, which all made short videos about their work before asking the public to vote online for their favourite cause.
More than 16,000 cast votes, with West Kootenay Community TEETH Clinic edging outsecond-place winner — $10,000 prize — Burnaby’s Charlford House Society for Women.
“As well, we have to thank all of those that helped us to garner this success,” Ramsden said.
“The local media was a great assistance in the drive to get the word out. “
“The ability to link into social media to spread the word using Facebook and Twitter provided us a interesting opportunity to spread the word beyond our local borders,” he added.
“We had people all across the country responding to our plea for assistance in helping our community.”
The three other winners of $5,000 included:
- Streettohome, a Vancouver charity that provides supported apartments for the homeless
- Canim Lake Band Wellness Centre near 100 Mile House teaches traditional culture of the Tsq’escenemc people and supports youth and families
- Crisis Intervention and Suicide Prevention Centre of B.C. runs a 24-hour crisis line in more than 100 languages.
“We roll up our sleeves with our next board meeting that is set for Friday, February 5th at 1:30 p.m. at the Resource Centre in the Community First Health Co-op Building at 518 Lake Street in Nelson,” Ramsden said.
“We would love to have our communities’ involvement on where we go from here.”
Anyone wanting to know more about Commmunity First Health Co-op, and West Kootenay Community TEETH check out the website.
