Inspired by the work and spirit of the late Raymond V. Mundall, MD, HAFDRA (Humanitarian Aid for Development and Relief Agency) was created to serve the local and international need for healthcare and education.
Not only does HAFDRA take its mission to Belize (https://thealpinemountaineer.com/2025/04/10/on-a-mission-to-bring-smiles-to-peoples-faces), its volunteers work much closer to home – doing dental screenings in the mountain’s three elementary schools.
The team of professionals and volunteers at Lake Arrowhead Elementary School.
On Friday, Sept. 12, a total of 878 young students in grades kindergarten through fifth grade were screened by dentists and dental hygienists, helped by volunteer scribes who noted the professionals’ observations.
As one dentist noted at a past screening, if a child has a cavity or an abscess that is causing them pain, they cannot eat properly, they can have trouble sleeping and they certainly cannot pay proper attention in the classroom and learn.
At Valley of Enchantment Elementary School, Drs. Guy Giacopuzzi and Xia Liang Liu and dental hygienists Shellie Boydston and Norine Giacopuzzi checked mouth after mouth. Some children received a “well done” for their oral care. Others were referred to the dental clinic at the mountain’s Rural Health Clinic; several of those referrals were marked as emergencies. They saw 381 students.
Trisha Manookian, BS, RDHAP and Megan Kierney saw 205 students at Charles Hoffman Elementary School and Dr. Morales and his assistants saw 292 students.
At all three sites, the professionals were assisted by volunteers from the three Rim Rotary Clubs and the schools’ PTAs. In addition to taking notes as the children’s teeth were examined, they handed out oral care kits including toothbrushes, toothpaste and dental floss.
For more information on HAFDRA, visit hafdra.org.
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