100 Dental Packs Delivered to Arlington Free Clinic: Here’s What That Really Means

This month, Rise4Health hit an exciting milestone: 100 dental kits created and delivered to Arlington Free Clinic! I got to see exactly how they’ll make an impact.

Standing Outside the Clinic

Who Arlington Free Clinic serves

Arlington Free Clinic (AFC) offers free, whole-person medical, dental, and behavioral care to uninsured adults in Arlington County. Each year AFC treats about 1,500 –1,600 patients through nearly 9,000 visits, including roughly 2,700 dental appointments in fiscal year 2024. That means an average of 230 dental visits each month, and each one offers a chance to improve someone’s everyday health with a toothbrush pack.

Dental Packs Matter

On my visit, I met Clare Hernandez, Communications & Development Manager. She explained that after every dental appointment, AFC makes a point of sending patients home with a toothbrush, toothpaste, or floss. These are simple items that help maintain oral health between visits. That’s exactly where our packs fit in. They help AFC stretch those small but impactful gestures into a sustainable tradition.

Clare and I at the front desk of Arlington Free Clinic

Inside the Clinic

Walking through the dental suite, I saw patients in clean rooms, meeting volunteer hygienists and dentists. These volunteers provide vital services like cleanings, fillings, even deep gum care, not just once, but often in multi-visit treatment plans. With 2,700 dental visits last year, every kit we donated means one fewer patient leaves empty-handed.

What “100 packs” Looks Like

• 100 people will leave the clinic with hygiene tools

• That covers nearly half of a month’s worth of dental visits

• Packs are handed out right after exams or cleanings, making them practical tools matched to need

  
  

What’s next

Delivering these packs was a reminder of why Rise4Health exists. AFC is doing so much, and our kits are a small but meaningful part of a bigger picture. We’re aiming for more deliveries across more clinics and more stories like these.

Thank you to Arlington Free Clinic and especially to Clare and the volunteer dental team for welcoming us so warmly. Thank you to everyone who has donated as well. Your support makes all of this change possible. This is just the beginning!