Volunteers help make MOM free dental clinic a reality

Over 2,000 people will have been helped by the Eastern Shore Mission of Mercy's or Mom's free dental clinic by Saturday's end, but none of that would be possible without the men and women who volunteer to make the event a success.

From those helping assist patients from station to station to the dentists providing potentially life saving care no one at the clinic collects a paycheck.

"I appreciate all the help they're giving us. It's all free. Cant' beat it," said Heather Barnes, one of the many patients receiving free care Friday.

Those like Vern Rivers, who's been a volunteer for all three MOM clinics are part of the brigade of repeat volunteers that bring the joy and smiles despite the long hours they work.  

For Rivers  it's the people they're helping that drives him. 

"I mean they sleep on the ground to get in here so of course you want to volunteer cause they're taking a chance getting here," Rivers said.

Friday over 1,500 people waited outside the Wicomico County Youth and Civic Center with the line wrapping around the block, some getting there as early as 2 p.m. the day before.  

By the time they hit the floor of the arena though, everything worked like a charm.  

A moment that brought tears to the eyes of Wendy Waller, Sue Bowman and Sharon Dashielle who spent most of 2016 planning the event. 

Their hard work paying off for the people who need it the most.

"Our eyes were just filled it's just amazing to see what can come together, what can be done when people really believe," Waller said.

Waller said they are accepting walk-up volunteers.