This weekend, over 1,500 volunteers will provide free dental, hearing and vision care at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center.
The Mission of Mercy event is free for adults and children age 2 or older, November 1 and 2.
There are no requirements to receive the free care, but it is on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Doors open at 6 a.m. each day and the clinic will be open until capacity is reached on each day.
Learn more HERE.
Dental procedures including root canals, dental exams, cleanings, fillings, extractions and more will be performed. Vision and hearing care will include eye exams, glasses fittings and free glasses, hearing exams and free hearing aids.
Last year, over 1,700 patients were seen over two days with 9,517 dental procedures, 825 eye exams, 752 pairs of eyes glasses given out, 447 hearing exams and 274 free sets of hearing aids were distributed.
In total, around $2.3 million of free care was delivered thanks to the help of 1,714 volunteers.
“At a time when there is so much division, Mission of Mercy Pittsburgh is a reminder that the people of Pittsburgh truly care for one another,” said Mission of Mercy Co-founder Daniel Pituch, DMD, MD, Chief of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, UPMC Mercy and UPMC Shadyside.
“With over 1,500 clinical and general volunteers signing up to give their time, this year’s clinic will once again provide our most vulnerable community members access to proper dental care to improve their health. No one should have to suffer in pain due to lack of insurance coverage or financial constraints.
Oral health problems can become life-threatening if left untreated, so it’s important for those who need dental care to come see us.”
“UPMC Health Plan is once again honored to sponsor the 2024 Mission of Mercy Pittsburgh event. We are grateful for the many volunteers and healthcare professionals willing to help and serve underserved communities. Through the Mission of Mercy Pittsburgh event, we are able to connect individuals to proper dental, vision, and hearing care which can result in fewer emergency room visits,” said Richard M. Celko, DMD, MBA, Chief Dental Officer, UPMC Health Plan.
“Mission of Mercy Pittsburgh is a vital resource for countless individuals across southwest Pennsylvania," said Yvonne Cook, president of the Highmark Foundation. "The fact that people eagerly anticipate this annual event for access to dental, vision, hearing, and immunization services speaks volumes about how critical these services truly are. We're proud to support A Call to Care's efforts to ensure everyone has access to quality care, and Mission of Mercy Pittsburgh is a shining example of that commitment."