Our Free Dental Day Story

Free Dental Day:  April 30, 2016

Bode Family Dentistry hosted our First Annual Free Dental Day in 2009.  The idea was 100% our team.  While on a CE trip, Walter, Sonya, and Alyssa observed another office participating in a “Dentistry from the Heart” event.  In 2007, Dr. Bode, Alyssa, and Sonya begun volunteering at the Olympia Union Gospel Mission and working with Linda Barrett – the Director of the OUGM Dental Clinic.  We could treat 8-12 people each day at the mission.  But we conservatively thought we could treat 80 patients in a day at our office with a little help from our friends.  Our goal was simply to support our community in the best way we knew how.  We understand the need for care is tremendous, but every little bit matters.  Every person we can help even in a small way – matters.

That first year we treated over 130 patients working from 6 am until 7 pm in our original five-operatory practice.  Over the years we have streamlined our systems and increased our efficiency, but our core event has not changed.  We still provide cleanings, extractions, and fillings to anyone in need.

In 2013, Dr. Bode and Dr. Russell created a partnership to form Russell and Bode Family Dentistry.  We opened our new building in 2014 and hosted our first Free Dental Day as a partnership in 2015.  Our new facility and wonderful team has allowed us to increase our capacity for treatment.

A special thanks to everyone who has volunteered over the years – especially Dr. Gannon Stahl and Meridith Howell – who have volunteered every year.

And finally, thank you to my original team – Walter, Alyssa, Sonya, and Pam – who have been there every step of the way.  An incredible amount of resources go into planning and executing our event every year and it would not be possible without them.

(Clockwise) Walter, Dr. Bode, Sonya, Pam and Alyssa in 2011