I had the great fortune of being able to volunteer with FTS last April in Guatemala and found it to be tremendously rewarding. I learned so much from the caring and talented volunteers who came from all over the country to assist this organization in treating the immensely deserving and grateful people of Guatemala. I know that we were signing up to help the underprivileged people of Guatemala to receive the dental care and cleft palate surgeries that they needed so desperately, but I came away from the experience with so much as well. I plan to continue supporting Free to Smile for many years to come.
Free to Smile is changing lives all over the world through cleft palate surgeries and other dentistry needs. In June 2012 my daughter volunteered on the Niger trip, which proved to be a life changing event for her as well as the many patients who came to the hospital. Her experience there touched us all and the lives that were impacted serve as a reminder of the true needs in the world for children and adults in developing countries. To hear of malnourished children kept in sheds separate from the rest of their families because of a deformity believed to be a curse to the family is beyond gut-wrenching. For the patients to finally be able to eat and keep nourishment in their mouths because of the surgeries offered by Free to Smile is cause to do more. Free to Smile volunteers pay their airfare and room and board, the budget is tight and the administrative costs of the organization are spartan compared to other organizations. Their goal is to help as many people as possible in every way possible. To say I've been impressed with Free to Smile would be an understatement.
