On June 10-11 , MOM-n-PA held its annual two-day event in York . After a pause in 2020 due to COVID and a shared event at the Temple University Kornberg School of Dentistry in 2021 , we were back on our own .
This year was our eighth event , and we had many challenges to face . Event planning took place during several waves of COVID . The planning team had many discussions and faced many decisions on how to manage an event in a semi post-COVID period . We looked at other events around the country that had restarted and ultimately made our own decision to hold a smaller MOM mission with only 70 chairs instead of the normal 100-chair event .
This made it necessary to have fewer volunteers and we would also adjust for fewer patients if the pandemic was still a concern at the time of the event . There were so many unknowns that every day leading up to the event we would each take a deep breath and hope that our efforts were not in vain .
Dr . James Boyle and Dr . Craig Pate were our local Leads for this event . They were able to gather several local volunteers who played a major role in our success . Jessica Ensminger of Family First Health attended our first planning meeting and was on board immediately . She was one of the most helpful local planners we had this year . Jess did so much to make this event a success that we can ’ t thank her enough . Sam Reichart was another local standout . Her enthusiasm in getting the word out to the local residents and securing donations was outstanding . We also want to give special thanks to Dr . Boyle ’ s mother , Pat Boyle , for her efforts to organize and keep all of the volunteers fed throughout the event . As always , there were many volunteers that I wish to thank for all of their hard work and efforts before and during the event . Some experienced our mission for the very first time and many have returned for their eighth time .
NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2022 | PENNSYLVANIA DENTAL JOURNAL 25