Elks delivering on dental care

For more than 40 years, mentally and developmentally disabled children as well as children from low-income families or families without health insurance have been receiving free dental care from the Elks Mobile Dental Program.

This program is one of several community services supported by Elks lodges around the state.

The Department of Hospital Dentistry at Truman Medical Center East in Kansas City and the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services are partners with the Elks in providing the dental services.

Joe McLemore, exalted ruler of the Elks lodge in Cape Girardeau, estimates the dental vans provided $800,000 of care in Southeast Missouri last year.

The Elks dental vans provide care for many Missourians who otherwise would receive no dental care at all.

This amazing program has, over the years, made a significant contribution to the quality of life for countless Missourians in need.

Members of Elks lodges everywhere are to be commended for their continued support.