Submitted by Fish for Teeth.

Since 2021, Fish for Teeth has worked to bring the Medical Teams International (MTI) Mobile Dental Van to Friday Harbor, which provides free dental services to those who could not otherwise afford the care. There are no income parameters restricting those who receive care—if your teeth need attention and you don’t have dental insurance and cannot afford the care, Fish for Teeth offered a solution. Fish for Teeth is a non-profit 501-c-3 organization that is funded solely by serving fish tacos and direct donations from the generosity of our community.

Since 2020 the Mobile Dental Van has been brought to Friday Harbor through a grant procured by the San Juan County Health and Community Services. Fish for Teeth and the San Juan Island Community Foundation and the Rotary Club of Friday Harbor have provided funding to support this grant, which works with San Juan County and MTI, bringing the van four times a year, for four-day dental clinics. This three-year grant ends in 2023 and is offered through the North Sound Accountable Communities of Health (ACH) and Arcora Foundation.

Moving forward, Fish for Teeth will utilize outside-of-the-box thinking to create a streamlined and efficient system that will help address the dental needs of San Juan Islanders who otherwise do not have access to dental care. Fish for Teeth is “in it to win it” and when our plan is formulated we’ll get back in the Fish Taco game for the full package of dental stewardship on San Juan Island.

The efforts and good works of Fish for Teeth have always been dependent on generous contributions from the San Juan Island community. Our past efforts have all been 100% volunteer, with local businesses and organizations stepping up to fill the gaps as needed. The Kiwanis Club volunteers helped make the Fish Tacos happen, the Mullis Center hosted the Dental Van, and volunteers handled the dental clinics, to mention only a few. Most recently, the Best Western Friday Harbor Suites stepped up big-time and offered three nights lodging for the Community Health Center of Snohomish dental team, who performed needed tooth sealants on kids during the School-Based Sealant Project that was organized by the San Juan County Health and Community Services. Thank you to all who have helped with Fish for Teeth through the years; we look forward to working with you again in the future.

For more information about Fish for Teeth, or to donate to support oral health access to care for those most in need, please go to www.fishforteeth.com.