Francis Shelter and Westcoast International Dental Clinic (WCI)
We are happy to inform you all, our valued customers and readership, about the supportive relationship that has evolved between WCI and our benefactors at the Francis Shelter. From the beginning WCI, has incorporated the belief, that real greatness and success is related to more than just being an excellent service provider with a respectable name. In fact, our clinic was established and built on the values that true greatness comes from unconditional support, contributions and care that is directed towards, underprivileged people, our community and for the benefit of all mankind.
Francis Shelter
It all started a while ago, when solving a very complicated dental case for one of our patients and a great person – Philip York. As with most of our patients, we developed a strong relationship with Philip. We got know more about him, his story and about the Francis shelter. Philip is currently serving as the program director for the Francis Shelter – Volunteer Group and is dedicated, regular volunteer in service to the residents at the shelter. For us this seemed like an excellent opportunity and perfect time for WCI, to get involved, and to offer free, quality, dental care and treatment, to the entire Francis Shelter community, who otherwise would continue to be living without any dental support or care at all.
The Francis Shelter is currently home for a constantly increasing number of mentally and physically disabled children and adults. At the moment just 11 regular staff members are struggling to provide the basic caregiving need to 107 residents. The shelter is terribly under staffed and seriously lacking in financial resources and volunteer support. The conditions at the shelter are tragically basic and desperately substandard. (Read more about Francis Shelter)
Dental Mission
In May 2016, we responded to the call for help and organized a dental mission, where our team of dentists traveled to the shelter to provide much needed dental help for number of 20 residents who were in pain and/or chronically suffering from dental related disorders.
After our hands on experience and actually seeing – feeling the reality at the Francis Shelter, we decided to return for similar dental missions later in the year. The WCI team was quite pleased and very touched to see how much our help meant to the residents there.
Creating a Change
We believe that spreading awareness about the shelter and the conditions that exist there. Is the best way to create a solid, long lasting impact on the standards of care and quality of life experienced by the handicapped! In general, a major shift is needed in people’s mindset and perspective, regarding the value and worth of the handicapped! At present far too many people share a feeling of indifference or limited understanding about the potential and learning capabilities of those of us who are living with chronic mental disorders and diseases or are facing a lifelong disability.
In order to initiate the change, we have come up with a charity project which will begin on 1st August 2016. The idea of the project is to draw attention to the plight of the handicapped and to attract as much financial support for the Francis Shelter as possible in a two month time period. That will be accomplished by the help of both local people, as well as from the expat community. All donated funds that are generated by our charity project will go towards improving the living conditions and quality of life for residents at the shelter.