This holiday season, thousands of disadvantaged children in southern California will find a highly useful object along with other educational and fun items when they open a new, bright-colored backpack assembled by the Volunteer Center, South Bay-Harbor-Long Beach: a toothbrush from Delta Dental.
California's largest dental health plan announced today the
shipment of 3,500 toothbrushes to Torrance, Calif.-based Volunteer Center, a nonprofit organization that helps more than 500 community agencies meet their volunteer needs. Each year, the center undertakes "Operation Teddy Bear," during which thousands of backpacks are filled with educational tools and toys earmarked for children of low-income families. Donors of other items in the backpacks include Mattel, the Port of Long Beach, the Port of Los Angeles and the L.A. International Airport.
Operation Teddy Bear volunteers distribute the backpacks through schools and social service agencies, with the idea that the items they contain help aid in early childhood development.
"It's great to learn of projects like this, and get the chance to
assist with something that helps educate children about the importance of maintaining good oral health," said Marilynn Belek, DMD, Delta Dental's chief dental officer. "Studies indicate that California children have higher incidence of dental disease than the national average, so getting them the proper tools to promote good hygiene is imperative."
