Volunteers Contribute to Health and Safety of Boston Youth at Charles Yancey Book Fair
On August 30, 2014, nine members of the Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (GSDM) community volunteered their time at the 28th Annual Charles C. Yancey Book Fair. This annual event held at the Reggie Lewis Track and Athletic Center promotes literacy and encourages the love of reading among Boston youth.
Oral Health Promotion Director Kathy Lituri organized the School’s participation in the Book Fair. GSDM volunteers were divided into two locations: one group obtained bite registrations and DNA samples for the Child Identification Program and assisted the MYCHIP program; and the other group was stationed at a dental resource table to promote oral health to school-aged children and their families. This was the first year that GSDM had been asked to be in two places at once, and the results were tremendous. During the three-hour event, both tables were consistently busy, and volunteers interacted with hundreds of children.
“We could not successfully participate in events like this without the commitment and dedication of volunteers such as you,” Lituri said. “Thank you for your volunteer spirit.”
In addition to Lituri, other volunteers included: Layth Al Kaissy AS 15, Wajiha Amer AS 16, Haranchal Bain AS 16, Clinical Instructor in the Department of Health Policy & Health Services Research Dr. Lina Benslimane Margi Chan DMD 16, Jina Lee DMD 16, Caroline Michaels DMD 18, Dr. Mohammed Mourad, and Divya Reddy (pre-dental).
“I am very proud to see members of our Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine community striving to improve the health of Boston youth,” said Dean Jeffrey W. Hutter. “Thank you to Ms. Kathy Lituri and the faculty and student volunteers who volunteered their time at the Charles C. Yancy Book Fair.”
Photos are available on Facebook and Flickr.