Interfaith Dental is shining a light on the impact of dental volunteer service for individuals experiencing poverty in Middle Tennessee this week. With more than 180 clinical volunteers last year, the volunteers at Interfaith Dental provided 3,700 hours of direct patient care. National Volunteer Week is dedicated to thanking them and honoring that service.

Volunteers responding to Increased Community Need: Every community in the country has vulnerable families who are unable to access affordable dental care. Nashville is no different. In fact, this year, as a result of the tornado and pandemic, the community need has increased by 30%, according to Dr. Rhonda Switzer-Nadasdi, CEO of Interfaith Dental, a volunteer-driven nonprofit agency that provides transformational oral healthcare to those experiencing poverty in Middle Tennessee.

"With many households already living below the poverty line before COVID-19, there is simply no financial cushion for these families to manage the severe and unusual impacts that have occurred," said Dr. Switzer-Nadasdi. "We partner with generous dental professionals every day to meet this gap in healthcare and National Volunteer Week gives us an opportunity to spotlight the frontline healthcare providers for going above and beyond when their community needed them most."

Interfaith Dental staff will be visiting volunteer's offices all week to thank them in person and invite them to schedule their next volunteer shift.