Community and Clubs: Working together to fill medical, dental needs

The Newport Beach Sunrise Rotary Club has recruited many people, young and old, from Orange County and beyond, to fill a need for dental and other medical services.

In 2007, The Africa Project, an all-volunteer nonprofit based in Irvine, requested Newport Sunrise’s help in fighting HIV and AIDS in the Nkandla region of South Africa. Club President Steve Bender came up with the idea of building a medical clinic inside a 20-foot shipping container.

Bender turned to teacher Jerry Cates, who at that time headed the Building Industry Technology Academy (BITA) at Western High School in Anaheim. BITA is a multi-year high school technical program that teaches students carpentry and other construction skills.

Bender enlisted Cates and the BITA team not only to help design and build the clinic, but to aid the larger cause of serving the needy.

“Our goal is to support medical, educational and housing for the underserved,” said Bender, “and to teach students and young adults philanthropy along the way.”

In July 2013, Nkandla received its first Doc in a Box. The interior included an examination area, medical supplies, refrigeration, water filtration and space for record storage. Outside the box was a multimedia education center, where lessons in sex education, health issues, basic sanitation and safety could be offered.

The BITA students’ accomplishments extended well beyond building a structure.

“Our students decided to make this a schoolwide project, running an awareness campaign and supplies drive,” said Cates. “We are learning about another culture, HIV/AIDS and donating our building skills to a worthy cause. It’s a big deal.”

Indeed, Cates and his team were so inspired by the experience that they formed Western High’s Interact Club, a Rotary youth club, to continue the students’ philanthropy.

Like the needs of the underserved, Bender’s work never ends. In 2011, fellow Rotarian Harris Done learned about Doc in a Box and approached Bender about creating a dental box. For decades, through the nonprofit AYUDA, Done and his University of Southern California dental students had been providing free dental care to children. Done believed Bender could help improve and expand those services.

Bender and Newport Sunrise were shocked to learn that California’s youth often lack dental care. At the time, they learned that 23% of elementary school students had never visited a dentist. More than 50% of Hispanic and African American children suffered tooth decay.

With Done’s expertise, Steve partnered with Cates and Western High’s BITA to design and build a mobile dental trailer. Newport Sunrise committed $10,000 to the project.

The Dental Box clinics opened in 2014. That year, $1 million in free dental services were provided, primarily to children. The Dental Box visited Anaheim, Fullerton, Orange, Tustin and Laguna Niguel as well as Porterville, Mexico and Peru.

The services continue in 2015, and plans are underway for a second Dental Box for use in Pennsylvania and Kansas City.

As with Doc in the Box, creating the Dental Box was one goal. Another was to solicit additional support for the cause. Anaheim Rotary is now Newport Sunrise’s partner on all of the Dental Box clinics. Furthermore, for each Dental Box location, Newport Sunrise has recruited the financial support and service of the local Rotary Club. Each local club donates $3,000, and its members provide meals and support for the dental students.

Bender and Done continue to expand the staff of volunteer dental students. Fifty of the most active dental students formed the Newport Beach Community Rotaract Club, which is financially supported by Newport Sunrise. Rotaract clubs are divisions of Rotary for ages 18 through 30.

The Dental Box most recently visited Samueli Academy in Santa Ana on Oct. 10. The next visits will be Nov. 14 at Niguel Hills Middle School, sponsored by Rotary Club of Laguna Niguel, and Dec. 11 to 13 in Rosarito, Mexico, in partnership with Club Rotario Playas De Rosarito.

For more information about becoming involved with the Dental Box clinics or any of the other medical services provided by Newport Sunrise Rotary and its partners, contact Steve Bender at Steve.Bender@Bacchus-DocinaBox.org.

Soroptimist International of the Newport Harbor Area Celebrates its 60th Anniversary

On Sept. 20, Soroptimist International of the Newport Harbor Area (SINHA) celebrated its 60th anniversary at the home of President Dalia Badajos. SINHA’s goal is to inspire, educate and empower women and girls, locally and globally.

SINHA was chartered in 1955 by a social group of 18 women, primarily entrepreneurs, interested in advancing women’s causes. In its early years, SINHA was known for its great parties given to raise funds for projects. One of the first projects was to purchase the land for the Girls and Boys Club in Costa Mesa. This location is now the home of the highly successful Girls, Inc.

One of SINHA’s primary objectives is the prevention of domestic violence and sex trafficking. Over 30 years ago, SINHA helped start, and has continually supported, Interval House, a nonprofit working for the safety of battered, abused and other at risk women.

SINHA is also dedicated to supporting young women locally. It chartered three groups for that purpose, including a Venture Club for post high school women, an S club at Costa Mesa High and, most recently, Mosaic for pre-teens. SINHA’s mission for these groups is to offer mentoring and volunteer opportunities, and to build friendship and leadership skills while having fun.

SINHA has also supported women internationally. One SINHA project is to financially reward a female head of household who is improving her education and/or job training to benefit herself and her family. SINHA also has collaborated with Soroptimist Clubs around the world to support women and girls. Currently, SINHA is supporting the rebuilding of female educational programs in Nepal that were devastated by the recent earthquake

SINHA invites women interested in the mission to join them. If interested, contact Dawn Marie Lemonds at dawnmarie.lemonds14@gmail.com.

Harbor Mesa Lions is Spreading Cheer to the Elderly and Youth

Harbor Mesa Lions is trying to put smiles on the faces of the elderly and ailing patrons at Newport Subacute Healthcare Center in Costa Mesa.

Members create beautiful dining room centerpieces and deliver them to the facility. Each monthly arrangement features a different theme. September was fall flowers and foliage, October is cute ghosts and November will be Thanksgiving items.

“Creating the centerpieces together is a fun project for our members,” said Co-Chairwoman Carol Van Holt, “and the little bit of cheer brought to the residents makes this project well worth the effort.” Many of the beautiful centerpieces are designed by her co-chairwoman, Sandi Scheafer.

Lions is also supporting an event in Orange. Cars will park at a tree lot next to the Ronald McDonald House. The car trunks, decorated Halloween-style, will be open, and instead of trick-or-treating door to door, children will proceed from trunk to trunk. Children will also enjoy crafts, games, balloon artists, candy apples, a popcorn machine and more.

Lions will host two cars. The first is for trick-or-treating. The second will be decorated like a haunted house and will host a game of ghost bean bag toss. Children may win prizes for tossing bags into the car’s windows. Lions is also supporting the event with funding and volunteers. Member Cathy Waters is Lions’ chairwoman for the event.

This event is scheduled from 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 30 at 300 S. Batavia St. in Orange. Patients from Children’s Hospital of Orange County and local children are invited. If you are interested in donating or volunteering at the event, contact Harbor Mesa Lions through its website, nhcmlionsclub.com.