Smiles From The Heart – Free Day of Dentistry
In 2014, Smiles From The Heart’s founder, Dr. Darren Riopelle, donated a building, equipment and supplies to Love INC. This allowed Love INC to open a free medical and dental center, servicing our community’s free dental care needs throughout the entire year. The Love INC free medical and dental center in scheduled to open by April 2015.
Due to the opening of the Love INC free clinic, Smiles From The Heart will no longer be holding its annual event. Instead, Smile Grand Haven will be donating its time, talent and resources at the Love INC center. We are humbled to be part of this team.
Little Smiles and Smile Grand Haven participated in Smiles From The Heart from 2010-2014. Smiles From The Heart was a free day of dental services provided to those in need in our local area.
Find more information by contacting Love INC.
Grand Haven Children’s Coast Guard Parade
Each year we participate in the Coast Guard Kid’s Parade. Did you see the tooth fairy?
Halloween Candy Buyback
Smile Grand Haven and Little Smiles partner with local schools to bring you our annual Halloween Candy Buyback. During the first week of November, we collect candy in bins inside local elementary and middle schools. Schools compete for cash prizes to go towards their specific educational needs.
Community members can also drop candy off at either of the Smile offices and receive $1 per pound for their donation.
Since 2008, we have collected over 7,000 pounds of candy! All candy is donated to Operation Gratitude through the National Guard. Shipping to Operation Gratitude in California has been graciously donated by AeroVision International in Muskegon.
February is Children’s Dental Health Month
February is National Children’s Dental Health Month – a great time to educate children on the benefits of good oral health. But more importantly, it is a great opportunity to provide a fun and positive experience to reinforce making healthy choices and to develop a trusting partnership with healthcare providers.
Since 1995, we have met with hundreds of students, from preschoolers to third graders from local elementary schools. We provide age appropriate interactive games, science experiments, questions and answer sessions and bags containing toothbrushes, floss and goodies.
Each year we visit with over 600 local students from preschool to 2nd grade. We hope we visited with your child! It is tons of fun!