Thanks to a generous grant from a fund administered by the Sisters of Mercy/Hermanas de la Misericordia, uninsured Detroiters who cannot afford dentures will be getting new smiles and better health. 

The Mercy Fund for Ministry recently awarded $40,000 – the fund’s maximum grant amount – to the Malta Dental and Medical Clinic in Detroit. The grant will support free dental care, including dentures – an expensive item far beyond what the Clinic’s uninsured, low-income patients could afford on their own.

“The absence of dental care has an enormous impact on general health, especially for diabetics,” explained Mary Ellen Howard, RSM, a Sister of Mercy and Malta Clinic board member who supported the Clinic’s grant application. “So this grant is addressing a critical health need in metro Detroit.” 

Sr. Howard, who twice served as CEO of Mercy Hospitals in Michigan, was also director of Detroit's Cabrini Clinic, the nation’s oldest free medical clinic, for 20 years. There she saw many patients “who had not seen a dentist since they were children, if ever, and some only had a few teeth left.” Trying to find free dental care for these patients, Sr. Howard learned of the Malta Clinic, and was impressed with the care patients received there. “I witnessed the miraculous transformation in our clients who received dentures through the Malta Clinic. Their nutrition and health improved – and so did their self-esteem. They often came in to thank me and show me their new smiles.” 

“The Malta Dental and Medical Clinic offers care to people in need,” said Sister Christine McCann, RSM, Co-Director of the Office of Ministry, Institute of the Sisters of Mercy for the Americas.  “As one of many grant recipients of The Mercy Fund for Ministry Grant Program, the Malta Clinic provides a service of mercy and compassion to its community.”

Founded in 2004, the Malta Dental and Medical Clinic, with the help of hundreds of volunteers, has cared for more than 16,000 uninsured homeless, elderly, and veteran patients. In addition to providing free dentures, the Clinic’s dental care includes examinations, x-rays, dental hygiene, fillings, and tooth extractions. Medical services offered by the Clinic include care for chronic diseases, diabetes, high blood pressure, asthma, and eye examinations. Services are provided by volunteers: Physicians, dentists, dental hygienists, nurses, physician assistants, and pharmacists. Students from Wayne State University medical and pharmacy schools, and the University of Detroit-Mercy dental and dental hygiene schools, assist the licensed professionals.

The Sisters of Mercy/Hermanas de la Misericordia are an international community of Roman Catholic women who dedicate their lives to the Gospel of Jesus and take vows of poverty, chastity, obedience, and service.  The order sponsors and operates more than 160 service organizations around the world, supported by tens of thousands of co-ministers, staff, and volunteers. 

For more information about the Sisters of Mercy/Hermanas de la Misericordia and their ministries, visit https://www.sistersofmercy.org/. To learn more about the Malta Dental and Medical Clinic, visit https://www.maltaclinic.org/. 

CFM website -- The Malta Dental and Medical Clinic (Malta Clinic), with the help of hundreds of volunteers and supporters, has had more than 16,000 visits by uninsured homeless, elderly, and veteran patients in its 18-year history. Now, a family’s generous creation of a new endowment fund will help secure the Malta Clinic’s ministry for the future.

The family of the late John Tierney was inspired to make the gift because of the long friendship between John and Lou Mahoney, founder of the Malta Clinic. The two friends met in college at the University of Detroit through their future wives, who were high school friends and sorority sisters. Over the years, they bonded through their love of family, faith, travel, and cards. Be it bridge or euchre, they loved being partners. And the two men admired each other’s work ethic and commitment to the community. 

“Malta Clinic was a true passion of Lou’s and the Tierney family is making this gift in recognition of his commitment. Our family will match every $1 raised up to $30,000 for the Malta Clinic endowment fund,” explains Chris Tierney, daughter of the late John Tierney.

Read more here. 

75 patients of the Malta Dental and Medical Clinic in Detroit are getting their dentures — and with them, a new lease on life.

The word “dentures” may conjure up cartoon images of teeth soaking in a glass of water or a punch line from a corny joke. But to many of Metro Detroit’s uninsured poor, their need for dentures is no laughing matter, but a critical health issue.

Thanks to grants from the Jewish Fund and the Jewish Fund Teen Board, 75 patients of the Malta Dental and Medical Clinic in Detroit are getting their dentures — and with them, a new lease on life.

Go here to read more in The Detroit Jewish News. 

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