In January of 2024, BTI Founder and President, Dave Kovalchick embarked on a two month humanitarian mission to Odessa, Ukraine. Backed by American donations, his goal was to find ways to get the most out of the money and help as many people as possible.
With the help of a local coordinator, Dave discovered a group of 60 families in desperate need of dental and eye care. Many of these families were widows with children, some were refugees who lost their homes and some were people with special needs who no longer had jobs due to the Russian invasion. Appointments were made immediately and the work got underway.
We started off with routine cleanings. Some of the people needed more procedures such as fillings or tooth extractions. We also paid for x-rays if the Dentist required them. We found out at the end of the program that these people have been waiting 18 months to have this dental work done so we were very happy to have helped. We are also supplying these people with toothbrushes, toothpaste, floss and instructions on proper tooth care.
Several women, such as Yulia, were in need of prosthetic teeth. She hated to smile because her teeth were in such poor condition. BTI was able to fund this procedure and she was very grateful and loves to smile now. Several people still need to have prosthetics made and BTI is currently trying to raise the funds for them.. The cost of the new teeth for each person ranges from approximately $1000 to $2000 USD, depending on the severity.
Julia, a photography student and orphan was especially happy to receive help with a new eye exam along with lenses and frames. In her field of study, proper vision is important and BTI was proud to help her on her path to achieve her dream. We continue offering eye care to those in need.
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