Submitted by Fish for Teeth
Fish for Teeth is continuing its tooth-fixing mission with a Fish Taco Fundraiser from 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 15, at the San Juan Community Theatre. An $8 suggested donation lands you a full-on burrito-sized taco filled with sustainably-harvested Washington Coastal Rockfish, fresh organic salsa, Tillamook cheese, zesty greens, and a squeeze of lime. Absolutely delicious.
COVID compliancy means the dental van can only utilize one of the two dental chairs available, so instead of cutting our services in half, Fish for Teeth is hosting the dental van for twice as long. Through a grant from the North Sound Accountable Communities of Health Oral Health Local Impact Network, funded by Arcora we will be able to expand dental van dates not only to San Juan Island but also to Lopez and Orcas throughout 2021. The ACH grant does not cover the entire cost, so we’ll be crankin’ out Fish Tacos to continue to pay the bills!
Fish for Teeth provides dental care for those who cannot otherwise afford the care. Due to the limited amount of dentists who provide Medicaid services on the island, there are many individuals suffering from toothaches and other problems associated with a lack of dental care.
Fish for teeth is not limited to those with Medicaid benefits; the higher cost of living on our islands means proper dental care often takes second place behind utility bills and mortgage payments. Fish for Teeth welcomes those “in the middle,” who are in need of dental care, and simply having trouble making ends meet. There are no income parameters that will restrict service when dental care is needed. If your teeth need fixing, we’re here to help.
To ease any COVID concerns, we have added an extra table to our Fish Taco assembly line so we can crank ‘em out a full 6-feet apart. Plus we’re all masked up, and we have always used gloves and proper hand washing while preparing your lunch.
Fish for Teeth has hosted the Medical Teams International Mobile Dental Van on San Juan Island since 2012. With no hiccups or shutdowns, we’re set to serve over 120 patients per year, from dental emergencies to routine teeth cleaning (proper maintenance avoids bigger problems later, so we are happy to provide cleanings and check-ups).
Fish for Teeth receives no public funding, and fish taco days are our only fundraiser; the rest of the funding is made up of individual contributions from caring people from our community. Even though our tooth-fixing dollar is not going as far because of COVID, we are still committed to helping people with dental pain who have no other option to get their teeth fixed.
If you value the efforts of Fish for Teeth and would like to lend financial support, please donate at fishforteeth.com, mail a check to PO Box 2084 Friday Harbor 98250. You can also volunteer your time in the taco-making or the dental clinic departments. The easiest way to help is by simply enjoying a delicious Fish Taco this Friday!
