There is a new non-profit in town as of March 2018 and it has become a life-changing passion for Dr. Smita Borole. She is working to repair broken women and one way to reach that end is to rebuild their teeth so they can smile again. Many people take being able to smile for granted. Many abused women do not … and they don’t smile.
This new organization is “Smiles for Hope.” Dr. Borole conducts a once-a-month clinic on Saturdays from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Volunteer Ministry Center. There they treat an average of 15 women, most of whom are the victims of domestic abuse. Dr. Borole is the founder and president of Smiles for Hope.
Last week she shared her story with the members of the Rotary Club of Farragut.
“Through this I have found my purpose in life … and that purpose is to provide free dental care to abused women and children in need to help them smile again with confidence,” she says. “There is a story behind every smile. A smile is your gateway to your personality.”
Dr. Borolo and her volunteers provide free service for basic dental care, dental prostheses like dentures and partials, plus crowns. She and her team, in collaboration with St. John’s Episcopal Cathedral Church and Volunteer Ministry, started providing free dental care to the residents of the YWCA Knoxville and the Tennessee Valley in early 2016. What began as an interim project to provide emergency dental care to the residents quickly turned into providing rehabilitative and reconstructive dental work. The women they help are part of the YWCA’s Key of Hope Housing Program.
Dr. Borole owns Dental Works and manages 30 professionals at its three locations. She is a resident of Farragut and a native of India. There is another side to this dentist as well. She is the founder of India Fest, a festival featuring Indian dances, musical programs, authentic Indian food, live cooking demonstrations, henna tattoos, yoga demonstrations, traditional Indian clothing, and activities for children.
Smiles for Hope was incorporated in October 20, 2017. The UT Law School did the legal work – pro bono – that led to obtaining the 501(c)(3) status in March 2018.
Through April 2018, they have conducted 27 clinics, had 200 patient visits, and provided 442 hours of service for an estimated $83,849 in dollars spent.
Their partners in this initiative are the Volunteer Ministry Center, the YWCA of Knoxville and the TN Valley, the DDS Dental Lab that makes the prostheses devices (for free), Farragut High School and the UT School of Law.
“My daughter is at Farragut High in the National Honor Society and they know about us and help us each month with two volunteers,” she said.
To learn more about this interesting group and service, click here to visit their website. You can also donate at this web page – for just $50 you can give someone the gift of teeth cleaning for the first time ever. Each donation is tax deductible and deeply appreciated.
“This work we do at Smiles for Hope is larger than what we are,” she said.