As executive director of Appalachian Highlands Community Dental Charities (AHCDC), Rachel Helton knows how detrimental tooth pain can be. The center is located in Abingdon, Va., where the need for affordable dental care in the region is immense.  

In fact, according to the American Dental Association, Southwest Virginia is a dental desert, with just 29 dentists for every 100,000 people. Many community members can’t afford the care they desperately need. Together, the shortage of providers and the cost of care leave thousands with nowhere to turn, and nearly 3,200 people are on AHCDC’s waiting list. 

But thanks in part to Appalachian Power Company (APCo), more people in southwest Virginia will receive the care they need. The APCo Foundation recently awarded AHCDC with a grant to help purchase dental equipment for seven new treatment rooms currently under construction.  

To celebrate this partnership, APCo employees volunteered at AHCDC’s Mini-Mission of Mercy event, where nearly 200 patients received free tooth extractions – care they otherwise couldn’t afford. Tooth extractions can prevent life-threatening infections, help people get better sleep and improve mental health. 

Jake Holmes, one of APCo’s external affairs managers, helped connect AHCDC with the grant opportunity after meeting their team at a regional leadership conference.  

“I was impressed by AHCDC’s impact across the region, and after seeing their operation in action, I encouraged them to apply to our Foundation. We’re beyond proud to support an organization that knocks down barriers to affordable dental care,” Holmes said.

Helton shared an anecdote to highlight just how life-changing that affordable care can be: “I had a patient last year that needed a full-mouth rehab, but when he came in he was scared,” she said. “He had a lot of anxiety and didn't have the money to afford the care he needed.” 

Helton said that even with a discounted treatment plan, the care was still out of reach. 

That was until a donor stepped in to cover the full cost.  

“After treatment, the patient was so grateful he asked how he could give back, and he now volunteers regularly at the center, and we are so grateful to have him,” Helton said, smiling. 

“Just knowing the impact this work has on our region, knowing the folks they serve and seeing the needs met by this great facility – it was just a no-brainer for our team to support this,” Holmes said. “We knew we wanted to be here and celebrate the work they do.”