South Jersey college provides free dental care Friday for children

College has held Give Kids a Smile Day for 14 years

Volunteers and students at the Blackwood campus of Camden County College will donate their time and skills to children under the age of 12 in need of dental care on Friday. This image is from 2015.
PROVIDED PHOTO//CAMDEN COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Students in Camden County College's dental assistant and hygeine programs are spending Friday caring for young patients with free dental care.

Working aside several dentists, the 75 volunteers – 50 of them students – are donating their time and skill to Give Kids a Smile Day.

The college has performed the service for 14 years, assisted by thousands of dollars in donations.

The free cleaning is available to children under the age of 12, by appointment, through 4 p.m. Friday at CCC’s Dental Hygiene Clinic on the first floor of the Kevin G. Halpern Hall science building on CCC’s Blackwood Campus at College Drive and Peter Cheeseman Road in Gloucester Township. To schedule, call (856) 227-7200, ext. 4631. The forms necessary to participate are at www.njda.org/gkas.

“In addition to cleanings and screenings, the children will be taught about good dental health,” Camden County Freeholder Deputy Director Ed McDonnell, liaison to Camden County College, explained.

The tooth fairy and other costumed characters are also part of the day, according to an organizer.