Grant To Harbor Care's Dental Clinic Assists Low-Income, Homeless Patients

NASHUA, NH — Harbor Care was awarded a $10,000 grant by Northeast Delta Dental Foundation in support of dental services for low-income and homeless families. The support of community partners like Northeast Delta Dental allows Harbor Care Dental Services to offer affordable dental care to hundreds of individuals each year who are living in poverty and experiencing homelessness.

Harbor Care Dental Services, a component of the Harbor Care Health and Wellness Center in downtown Nashua, offers a wide range of services, from cleanings and fillings to crowns, extractions, and dentures, for both adults and children.

Nashua measures the rates of tooth decay among its third graders, and the most recent study stressed the link between poverty and poor dental health. In schools where more than half of students receive subsidized lunch, more than half of students had a history of tooth decay (53.4 percent). The consequences of poor dental health follow students into adulthood, complicating employment and chronic health conditions. Some groups, like veterans or the elderly, are at particular risk. A third of impoverished seniors have lost all their teeth, and veterans are 60% more likely to experience tooth decay than non-veterans.

“Supporting Harbor Care Dental Services allows us to carry out our mission of advancing the oral health and overall wellness of our community,” Jennifer McGrath, Senior Manager, Corporate Giving, Northeast Delta Dental, explained. “We’re grateful for the opportunity to bring more healthy smiles to the Nashua area.”

Northeast Delta Dental has a history of funding Harbor Care and other dental programs. In particular, Northeast Delta Dental works to cover the costs of care for low-income veterans. Because many veterans cannot afford dental insurance, Northeast Delta Dental created a fund to cover their treatment costs. Since its creation, the fund has provided more than $900,000 for the treatment of hundreds of veterans, including dozens at Harbor Care.

“Northeast Delta Dental is a real champion of accessible and affordable dental care for all New Hampshire residents,” Harbor Care’s CEO, Henry Och, stated. “We deeply appreciate the partnership we have in service to our most vulnerable community members, enhancing their overall health and wellbeing.” For information or a dental appointment, call 603-821-7788.

Since 1995, the philanthropic arm of Northeast Delta Dental, the Northeast Delta Dental Foundation has supported organizations and initiatives in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont that improve the oral health of the people in our communities. The mission of the Foundation is to improve the access to and the quality of dental health and education for the public and the dental communities we serve. Underscoring the belief that everyone deserves a healthy smile, in 2023, the Foundation donated more than $1.3 million for oral health programs throughout the tri-state area.

For further information, visit nedelta.com/foundation.

In addition, the company supports numerous organizations, events and initiatives important to the communities through a corporate grant application process and funds loan repayment programs to incentivize dental students to provide dental care in underserved areas and communities.

Harbor Care is an innovative non-profit organization, providing housing, health care, and veterans services, and helping more than 5,000 adults, children, and families of New Hampshire each year find solutions to many of life’s most challenging issues. The organization provides high quality housing and residential services; medical, dental and mental healthcare; substance use treatment; HIV/AIDS support services; employment; and veteran services for individuals and families experiencing, or at-risk of, homelessness. Learn more at harborcarenh.org/healthcare and read our annual report at harborcarenh.org/2023annualreport.

Submitted by Harbor Care