Gift from the Heart: Filling the gap in dental care

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KAREEN MCKINNON

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DEPUTY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

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In our community, approximately 28,000 people are facing an impossible choice: pay their rent and bills or get the dental care they desperately need. These aren’t just statistics they’re our neighbours, our colleagues, and our family members. They’re the working poor, retirees living on fixed incomes, single parents stretching every dollar, post-chemo patients dealing with treatment side effects, and so many more. This is where Gift from the Heart steps in.

While the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) has been a welcome development, there’s a gap, the CDCP covers basic dental care, but patients can still face copayments. For someone already struggling to make ends meet, even a copayment can be insurmountable. Gift from the Heart bridges that gap, ensuring that financial barriers don’t stand between people and the dental care they need.

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The consequences of untreated dental issues extend far beyond individual suffering. When people can’t afford dental treatment, they often end up in hospital emergency rooms, where staff can only provide antibiotics to treat infections temporarily. Without addressing the underlying dental problem, these patients return again and again, caught in a costly cycle. This pattern not only drains hospital resources financially but also significantly increases wait times for everyone, putting additional strain on our already stretched healthcare system.

Gift from the Heart operates dental clinics in our community, providing comprehensive care to those who would otherwise go without. We work with the CDCP system, helping patients access their benefits while covering the copayments they cannot afford. Our goal is simple: ensure that everyone in our community can maintain their oral health, dignity, and quality of life, regardless of their financial situation.

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Gift from the Heart is more than a charity. We are a vital part of keeping our community healthy, productive, and happy. Dental health affects everything from nutrition and employment opportunities to mental health and social connections. When we help someone get the dental care they need, we’re helping them maintain their dignity, their health, and their ability to participate fully in community life.

But we can’t do this vital work alone. We urgently need volunteers to help us serve our community. If you’re a dental hygienist, dental assistant, or dentist, even a half day of your time can make an enormous difference. We are also seeking volunteers for our board of directors. Positions including Secretary, Treasurer, Chair, and Vice Chair are coming open as current terms are completed. If you have a couple hours a month and would be interested in supporting our agency we would love to hear from you.

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VIQ is looking for enthusiastic volunteers to help bring the Homestead Marketplace Haunted Halloween Maze to life at Homestead Marketplace Trenton on the following dates: Event Volunteers will assist with a variety of roles, including greeting guests at the

entrance, explaining the rules and guidelines and guiding participants through the maze. The time requirement is 4:15pm to 8:15 on the following days Friday, Oct 10th, Saturday, Oct 11th , Friday, Oct 17th, Saturday, Oct 18th, Friday, Oct 24th and Saturday, Oct 25th.

VIQ is currently seeking volunteers interested in assisting with 50/50 event at the Belleville Senators Games season games. Volunteers work in teams selling 50/50 tickets to attendees of the game. Choose one game or all, contact us today!

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YMCA Belleville location is seeking volunteers on Saturday October 25, 2025, from 11am to 7pm to support their Halloween Spooktacular Event. As a crew member the following positions are open decorating the venue, setting up items for crafts and games, volunteers to run the games and assist with the craft table, becoming a actor in the haunted house, volunteers to assist with take down and clean up. High School students are welcome. Training and support provided by staff.

The ROC Recreation Outreach Centre is seeking volunteers at their youth centre for mentorship opportunities with youth and teens aged 12-18. Volunteers will assist in facilitating a safe space where youth can hang out and participate in programs offered. A criminal record check and vulnerable sector screening are required.

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Links to Learning is currently seeking volunteers to assist with their one to one reading program. This program runs Monday and Tuesday from 4:30 to 6:30. High school looking for volunteers are welcome.

Community Living Prince Edward is looking for social individuals who would like to volunteer their time to socialize, share interests such as crafts, arts, music, cooking, sharing hobbies, sharing a cup of tea, playing cards, or baking. This is an opportunity to build relationships and share skills.

Trenton Care and Share Food Bank is seeking volunteer reception and appointment scheduling. Duties include answering incoming calls, checking voicemails and responding to emails/messages. search clients visit dates and availability and set up appointments. Other opportunities include assisting in other roles such as building meal kits, breaking down cardboard for recycling, stocking shelves

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Community Care Prince Edward County Association is seeking Volunteer drivers to provide door-to-door transportation service to medical appointments and essential shopping. In most instances, the driver will remain with the client to ensure their safe arrival home. Clients are independently mobile. Orientation and ongoing support is provided by a staff member.

The Enrichment Centre is seeking volunteers to transport prepared food. The driver will provide the vital service of transporting daily meals from Bridge Street United Church to 125 South Church Street, for distribution. Duties include loading your personal vehicle with totes containing frozen soups, sandwiches and dessert items, then unloading and help to put food away in designated areas and return the totes to Church.

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Individuals seeking contact information regarding programs and services available in our community can call 211 and speak to a trained Information Specialist. 211 information specialists will assist you to navigate the network of human services quickly and easily, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, in over 150 languages or call VIQ at 613-969-8862.

Volunteer & Information HPE refers volunteers to more than 275 agencies throughout Hastings and Prince Edward counties. We are currently recruiting volunteers to fulfil the needs of our community. Please contact 613-969-8862 or visit our website at www.viq.ca for more information about volunteer opportunities. THE RIGHT PERSON, THE RIGHT PLACE, THE RIGHT TIME.

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