Nothing unites Temple more than our desire to serve our community, which is why the TUH-Main Campus Office of Patient Experience was proud to team up with Temple University’s Pre-Dental Health Society (PDHS) to help the latter donate approximately 540 dental hygiene kits to our patients.
“Each kit consisted of a toothbrush, a tube of toothpaste, mouthwash, and a Polydent tablet,” explain Cameryn Berry and Merlin Matthew, PDHS’ Community Service Chairs. Berry and Matthew coordinated the effort with assistance from PHDS Presidents Natalie Levine and Cece Tran and Patient Experience intern and PDHS member Eleena John, who came up with the idea for the donation.
“These kits were packaged through the collaboration of over thirty dedicated Pre-Dental Health Society members,” Matthew and Berry continue. “As pre-dental students, we are all extremely determined to give back to our Temple community, and to provide free and necessary dental hygiene products to ensure the health and wellbeing of our neighbors.”
Patient Experience delivered the kits to the Main Campus Emergency Department, which plans to distribute them to patients and visitors in need. “This was a creative way to bring our Temple community together to support our neighbors,” says Shamin Mathews, MSW, LSW, Manager of Community Engagement and Volunteer Services.
Berry and Matthew agree. “We want to give a huge thank you to Shamin Mathews, Eleena John, the Office of Patient Experience, and the At Your Service volunteer department for allowing us to make this happen and for us to make a difference,” they say. “Their cooperation and partnership allowed us to turn our dreams into a reality, and we’re looking forward to donating more in the future!”