By Teresa Reile
Buffalo, NY – When Sharon and Palmer Pisle approached the staff at Gentle Dentistry of East Aurora about donating toothbrushes to people in Uganda, the response was immediate. Approximately 500 toothbrushes were given to the Pisle’s to take with them in October along with 300 water filtration kits when they go on their 4th annual humanitarian mission to Uganda to help the people of that area learn about proper hygiene.
The Pisles, who own and operate a Bed and Breakfast in East Aurora, NY are in charge of the Water Division of GAIN. Global Aid Network is a multi-national network of ministries demonstrating the love of God, to needy people around the world through relief and development projects.
The water filtration kits the Pisles bring, manufactured by Sawyer One, were originally made for dialysis patients and filter out 99.99% of toxins.
The water in some parts of Uganda is so unsanitary, that there is fecal matter present in the stream that the people drink from, bathe in and do their laundry in. “In a country where 375 people a day die from ingesting impure water, these water filtration kits are literally life saving to the people of Uganda”, Says Palmer,
Most people of Uganda have never even seen a toothbrush before and have to be taught not only how to use one but to use it everyday. There are stories of people who have used a toothbrush one time and have thought that is the only time they ever need to brush their teeth!
The situation is so bad, that people there do not even realize that they must have clean water to brush their teeth with. Therefore, the process of teaching the people hygiene is not only relegated to the brushing of teeth, but also of teaching them the importance of a clean water supply.
Sharon Pisle tells of an ingenious way to teach the people about germs, “We have the people moisten their hands, then we sprinkle glitter on them and have them shake hands with everyone. They can see that the glitter spreads from person to person. We explain that that is what happens with germs. We then have them try to get the glitter off of their hands with water only. It does not work. The glitter only comes off when they use Soap AND water to wash their hands.”
The money for the filtration kits is raised by GAIN through donations. Each water filter costs $125.00. GAIN has a contract with the country of Uganda. Uganda pays $3.00 for the buckets that house the water filters. The filters are owned by a children’s home called, “Noah’s Ark” which is a local clinic. The people who use the filters, do not own them, and they are not allowed to sell the filtered water. If they are found to be selling the water or not using the filter, the filters are taken away and given to someone who will use it. They can give the water away, but not sell it.
The Pisle’s have distributed 600 filtration kits in Uganda so far which effectively service about 5,000 people. “We have to be careful to make sure the filters WORK and the people KNOW how and WHY to use them. It’s a constant struggle. We employ a man over there to make sure that the people maintain hygiene. The filter does not stop viruses, therefore we have to educate the people that while they may still get the flu and colds, they will be much better off with clean water”, – says Palmer.
The Pisle’s related an incident about how badly these supplies are needed when they were in Africa and the President of Zimbabwe was meeting with the UN. When the President heard that GAIN had arrived with supplies, he cut his meeting with the UN short and came out to meet with the Pisle’s. In Zimbabwe, 15,000 people a day die from cholera.
“You can feed 40 people over there with what it cost to get on cup of coffee at a coffee shop over here,” says Sharon Pisle.
“Africa is a place dear to my heart and we will always support anything that will help that area of the world. So, Gentle Dentistry is offering a FREE exam and X-ray to anyone who comes to either of our offices with a donation to GAIN to help the people of Uganda,” said Dr. Glassbrenner. Dr. Glassbrenner and her husband, Gary travelled to Africa in 2009 and visited hospitals and taught the kids about proper oral hygiene and gave them all tootbrushes.
Donations can be made by sending a check to:
Global Aid Network
871 Main St.
East Aurora, NY 14052
or bring your donation to Gentle Dentistry and receive a free exam and xray www.WeAreGentleDentistry.com.
About GAIN -
Originally started in 1991 as a humanitarian project to the former Soviet Union, GAIN is now overseeing projects in more than 30 countries and has distributed greater than $200 million worth of aid and mobilized more than 12,000 short-term mission participants to foreign lands.
About Gentle Dentistry, PLLC – www.WeAreGentleDentistry.com (716) 652 7080
With two locations, Gentle Dentistry of East Aurora, located at 215 Main St. in the historic town of East Aurora, NY has been serving the East Aurora area since 2002 and
Gentle Dentistry of Lancaster, PLLC located at 5007 Transit Road proudly opened its doors on May 14, 2010 with a Gala Grand Opening welcoming patients from the Lancaster, NY and surrounding areas.
The staff contributes greatly to the community with outreach programs, charity events and being a part of the economic engine that drives our town.