UF’s cheerleading squad and pre-dental association teamed up to help keep Gainesville smiling.
Nine members of the pre-dental chapter of UF’s American Student Dental Association collected more than 5,000 items from local high schools and dentists from March 1 to March 31 for their Cheers for Smiles fundraiser.
Buchholz High School, St. Francis Catholic High School and P.K. Yonge Developmental Research School collected toothbrushes, toothpaste, dental floss and mouthwash in a competition to win a pep rally performed by the Gator Cheerleaders, who perform alongside the football, basketball, gymnastics and volleyball teams
“Oral hygiene is often overlooked as a necessity,” said Patrick Fitzgerald, a UF sophomore and UF cheerleader who came up with the idea for the fundraiser. “This fundraiser is meant to promote oral health and education.”
The club is still counting the number of items donated by each school and will determine which high school donated the most this week.
The items collected will be donated to the St. Francis House and also given to local church groups going on mission trips to Haiti because St. Francis House’s quota for dental donations has been filled for this year, Fitzgerald said.
St. Francis House usually hands out about 2,000 toothbrushes each year, he said.
Microbiology junior Morgan Coakley, who is a member of the club, said some people are unable to afford dental care.
Fitzgerald, who has volunteered at the St. Francis House, said he’s met people who haven’t had access to a toothbrush for several days.
Poor oral hygiene can lead to bigger issues like heart problems and other diseases, he said.
Fitzgerald said he hopes Cheers for Smiles will become an annual community service project.
