Mission Possible Receives Grant To Provide Free Dental Care

Aurora, December 17, 2013:  For the second year in a row, Mission Possible, a downtown Aurora Christian ministry was selected as a recipient of the Illinois State Dental Society Foundation Community Grant award.  One of ten winners and twenty-one applicants, the $3984 of grant monies will be used to pay for the disposable clinical supplies needed as they seek to double the volume of dental and hygiene patients served in its free clinic for the fully uninsured.

Since the 2012 Medicaid cuts to dental coverage, it is approximated that nearly 40,000 Aurorans are without the basic dental care they once enjoyed.  When consideration is made for the estimated 15,000 uninsured persons in Aurora and the recent closing of Aunt Martha’s Dental Clinic, the burden to provide urgent dental care is unprecedented.  As a result, the Mission Possible wait list has swelled to 200+ persons who often experience a eight to nine month wait for critical dental exams, x-rays, fillings, extractions, and hygiene care.

Since opening in February 2012, nearly a quarter million dollars worth of free healthcare has been provided through 1000+ visits to the Mission Possible dental, medical, vision, and orthopedic clinics.  Over twenty-five volunteer dentists, hygienists, and assistants have rendered fifty five percent or $139,600 of this care in the dental clinic including 138 exams, 263 fillings, 109 extractions, and 257 cleanings.  Mission Possible is always seeking more mission minded medical practitioners to join their growing team of licensed professionals providing compassionate care.

Mission Possible serves all individuals who do not have health insurance and do not meet eligibility requirements for Medicare, Medicaid (exception for dental), disability, or other governmental health programs.  Patients are seen, by appointment, on a first-come first served basis.  Appointments for those who qualify can be made at 630-801-0086.

Mission Possible is a privately funded independently governed 501(c) 3 dedicated to holistically meeting the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of Aurora in Christ’s name.  Donations to Mission Possible enable volunteers to provide free healthcare, recovery ministry, Bible training, and fellowship activities. To learn more about Mission Possible, go to www.onjesusmission.org.

Linda Baer, Director of Free Healthcare linda@onjesusmission.org