IMPRESSIONS continued
appreciation goes out to everyone for their support . It didn ’ t matter if you were helping with food for volunteers or doing extractions . Everyone had a vital part in making this an event to remember .
There are too many volunteers and committee people to recognize , so please don ’ t be offended if I don ’ t mention you by name . Some of the volunteers that I encountered during this event I will not forget anytime soon . A woman named Shirley signed up for hospitality . She was so moved by our ability to mobilize snacks and water for those standing in line that she led the charge at 5 a . m . on Friday by handing out lunch bags and water to those in line down Montgomery Ave . and onto 15 th Street . Each morning when I arrived at 4 a . m ., there were already more than 200 people waiting in line . By 7 a . m . we had over 1,000 people waiting inside or outside for treatment . We had to cut off the line and tell people that we had reached capacity by 9:30 a . m . each day . It was heartbreaking for our volunteers to give people the bad news , but we all knew that the need would easily exceed the limited capacity available .
An EFDA from Philadelphia , Artem , was like several other volunteers I met during those three days . He had no reason to show up at 9 a . m . on Thursday and set up all day other than his desire to help . He then returned on both Friday and Saturday , working all day from 6 a . m . until 7 p . m . Why do people do this except for the fact that they see the need and feel the need to help ?
In discussions months before the event it was decided not to do a big media splash . With a population of 1.5 million in Philadelphia we were afraid of a mob of thousands seeking dental care . Instead , with the help of Dr . Renee Fennell-Dempsey and local health centers we put out the word . We were a little worried that maybe we wouldn ’ t see the number of patients who show for events in other cities that heavily publicized , but when I saw hundreds of people in line at 4 a . m ., I knew the right decision had been made .
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