Free dental clinic in Pueblo hoping to serve 1500 people this weekend

PUEBLO,Colo. (KRDO)--Back in July of this year, a non-profit organization, Colorado Mission of Mercy, presented a request to Pueblo City Council for $10,000 to help support a dental clinic where they provide a full range of dental services to about 1500 patients over the course of 2 days. This request was approved by the city.

Friday, the event kicked off at the events center at the Colorado State Fairgrounds. The organizer told KRDO that their goal is to see over 500 people per day.

The services provided include pediatric dental care, teeth cleaning, fillings, restorative work, oral surgery, and prosthetic services. All services are done by volunteers that come from all across Colorado and some from other states.

Before getting treatment, patients are required to get covid tested as well as wear a mask.

This non-profit organization has been to Pueblo before, but not since 2017.

"It has been a few years since we've been back, but we just know that the need is so great in Pueblo," said Molly Pereira, Colorado Mission of Mercy, Board Director.

One local oral surgeon in Southern Colorado, Eric Ringer, is the site chair for Colorado Misson of Mercy. He said he likes to be a part of clinics like this to be able to give back.

"I've been lucky to be able to go to school and get training for this kind of thing. And I feel like when I do service, where I have the opportunity to serve those who need it like this helps me. It helps me feel good. It also helps me become a better person," said Ringer.

The event is going on until Saturday starting up again at 6 a.m. on a first come first serve basis. The organizer said they will close the doors once they see the need is not needed anymore.