The ECU School of Dental Medicine hosted the ‘Smiles for Veterans’ event on Saturday to provide free dental care for veterans. Army veteran Mitchel Hudson says, “It means a lot to have this. A lot of people don’t have these services and I’m glad veterans do because they deserve it.” Dental students and faculty had the opportunity to work directly with patients to provide services.
Aleacia Lee graduated ECU in May 2024 and was able to work with the veterans as an AEGD Resident. “Usually with these events, I was doing assisting or something like that. But now actually doing the care for the veteran, it’s really special. I got a big smile after my patient left today,” Lee says.
Founder and Chairman of Smiles for Veterans David McCracken says the group relies on donations and grants to be able to give back to veterans in need. “The amount of money we get, and I think this is the thing I’m most pleased with, is every single dollar, 100%, goes to some veteran’s mouth,” McCracken says.
As a veteran himself, Dean of ECU School of Dental Medicine Greg Chadwick says its vital to provide dental services to veterans that need it. He says, “We enjoy having this school because of the people that have served in the armed services in years past and given us the opportunities to enjoy the freedoms that we enjoy.” Chadwick says this event was the first in Pitt County but certainly won’t be the last.
ECU says close to 30 veterans were helped during the event, and more than 400 total have been cared for through the program since 2018, receiving more $220,000 dollars worth of care.
