Community & Clubs: Dental center fills a need
The Cheri Harris Children’s Dental Health Center has kept drilling and filling since it was established in 1952 by the Assistance League of Newport-Mesa.
The center provides comprehensive, ongoing dental care to underserved children and young adults in the community, according to director Anne Wong. The care includes general and preventive dentistry, root canals, composite restoration, crowns, bridges, sealants and emergency services.
It also provides orthodontic treatments for children from pre-kindergarten through age 26. The center does not accept dental insurance, but a nominal fee is charged for all dental procedures. Orthodontic fees are also reduced.
The center’s staff consists of four general dentists, an orthodontist, a dental hygienist and members of the Assistance League who volunteer their time to keep this operation going.
The center is fully funded by the Assistance League from sales at its thift and consignment shops, contributions, community grants and annual fundraising event. The dental center fulfills the League’s motto, “A Better Tomorrow for Today’s Child,” by treating about 3,000 patients yearly, says Wong.
The center is open Mondays through Thursdays and every other Friday.
The Assistance League of Newport-Mesa, founded in 1940, is a nonprofit, self-funded volunteer organization that benefits children and families through a variety of philanthropic programs.
For more information on the dental center, contact Wong at (949) 645-6929 or visit https://www.alnm.org. Mailing address is 2220 Fairview Road, Costa Mesa, CA 92627.
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Plastic bags to help the homeless
The Harbor Mesa Lions are having plarn parties to help the homeless, according to member Carol Van Holt. Plarn is plastic yarn used to weave mats for the homeless to sleep on.
Members are saving plastic bags, which they cut into strips and wind into balls to give to the Pomona Host Lions Club to create the mats. Harbor Mesa Lions Club member Joan Parks is hosting the parties in her home.
“Our members have fun doing this project, as we get to do something that is productive and know that the end result will help people,” she said.
The Harbor Mesa Lions are also collecting used eyeglasses, ink cartridges and used hearing aids.
For more information, check out the club’s website at nhcmlionsclub.com.
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Off to Vietnam and Cambodia
Barbara and I are off this week on a 10-day tour to Vietnam and Cambodia — Barbara leading a group from the Palm Desert Area Chamber of Commerce and I with a group from the Newport-Mesa-Irvine Interfaith Council.
The Interfaith Council has four tours planned for 2014. They include Russia by Rail, Dubai, Peru and Machu Picchu, and Paris and Normandy. One does not have to be a member of the Interfaith Council to participate in the trips.
For more information, visit https://www.nmiinterfaith.org or email nmiinterfaith@aol.com.
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Service Club Meetings This Week
WEDNESDAY
Noon: The 15-member Exchange Club of Corona del Mar meets at the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club, 1601 Bayside Drive, Corona del Mar, for a business meeting.
THURSDAY
7 a.m.: The 20-member Costa Mesa Orange Coast Lions Club meets at Mimi’s Café, Newport and Harbor boulevards, Costa Mesa.
Noon: The 45-member Kiwanis Club of Newport Beach/Corona del Mar meets at the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club. For more information, visit sites.google.com/site/kiwanisofnewportbeach.
Noon: The 75-member Exchange Club of Newport Harbor meets at the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club for a business meeting. For more information, visit https://www.nhexchange.org.
Noon: The 40-member Kiwanis Club of Costa Mesa meets at the Costa Mesa Country Club, 1701 Golf Course Drive, Costa Mesa. For more information, visit https://www.costamesakiwanis.org.
Noon: The 55-member Newport-Irvine Rotary Club meets at the University Club, 801 E. Peltason Drive, Irvine.
6 p.m.: The 57-member Rotary Club of Newport-Balboa meets at the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club. For more information, visit https://www.newportbalboa.org.
MONDAY
6:30 p.m.: The Harbor Mesa Lions Club meets at the Costa Mesa Country Club on the first and third Monday of each month. The club meets at various restaurants in the area. For more information, email clion93@verizon.net.
TUESDAY
7:15 a.m.: The 58-member Newport Beach Sunrise Rotary Club meets at Working Wardrobes, 3030 Pullman St., Costa Mesa; on Nov. 19, it will be back at the Five Crowns Restaurant, 3801 Pacific Coast Hwy., Corona del Mar, for a State of the City program by Newport Beach Mayor Keith Curry. For more information, visit https://www.newportbeachsunriserotary.org.
COMMUNITY & CLUBS is published Wednesdays. Send your service club’s meeting information to jdeboom@aol.com.