Local Free Dental Clinic Seeks Emergency Donations to Continue Care

United We Smile, a mission driven dental clinic and teaching facility operated by the United Way of Northwest Michigan, posted an urgent appeal on November 6 requesting donations to sustain clinic operations through the end of the year. The release said the clinic has served nearly 2,300 patients and delivered more than two point three million dollars in dental care at no direct cost, but that an immediate operational funding shortfall threatens its ability to continue services.

According to the appeal, pressures such as uncertain Medicaid funding contributed to the shortfall. The clinic said donations would allow it to continue treatment plans for existing patients, provide urgent care to people on the waiting list including children and veterans, and stabilize operations into 2026. The release included a donation link and phone contact, with more information available at https://business.traverseconnect.com/news/details/united-we-smile-needs-your-urgent-support-11-06-2025.

United We Smile functions both as a safety net provider and a teaching site, offering no direct cost care to patients who otherwise might delay treatment. For Grand Traverse County residents, the potential loss of services would reduce access to preventive and restorative dental care for populations that often face barriers to care. Disruptions to treatment plans can worsen oral health outcomes and may increase demand on primary care and emergency services for dental related problems.

The clinic also plays a role in training future dental care providers, which has implications for local workforce capacity. Sustaining the teaching component helps ensure a pipeline of clinicians familiar with community needs. The appeal frames immediate donations as a way to prevent interruption of ongoing treatments and to clear the waiting list for urgent cases.

Local nonprofit and public health leaders have increasingly pointed to Medicaid program uncertainty as a driver of service instability for clinics that rely on a mix of public reimbursement and philanthropy. For residents who depend on clinic services, the United We Smile appeal is a prompt to act quickly if they want to preserve local access to affordable dental care through the winter and into the next year.

Residents who wish to help can follow the link provided in the clinic release for donation and contact details. The United Way of Northwest Michigan said that contributions received now will be used to stabilize operations and support patient care continuity as the organization plans for 2026.