Mending Kids Completes Second Hometown Mission for Special Needs Dental Care

LONG BEACH, Calif., September 23, 2026 /CourierPR/ -- Mending Kids, a nonprofit organization providing free surgical care to children, recently completed its second Hometown Mission on September 19 at MemorialCare Outpatient Surgical Center in Long Beach. This mission aimed to address a critical gap in access to dental care under anesthesia for children and young adults with significant special needs.

The Hometown Mission, which took place on September 19, involved more than 40 dental and medical professionals and volunteers. Eight children and young adults, each requiring comprehensive dental care, were treated. These patients, who had never received dental care or had been on waiting lists for years, spent approximately two and a half to three hours under anesthesia. The dental teams provided a range of services, including X-rays, cleanings, restorations, and dental surgery when necessary. Together, the eight patients required nearly 24 hours of operating room time in a single day.

Sponsored by the CDA Foundation, the mission was instrumental in bringing together a diverse group of professionals. XDR Radiology contributed specialized dental equipment, and MemorialCare Outpatient Surgical Center provided access to its operating rooms and facilities. The mission was also made possible by grants from the Helen and Jose Colton Foundation and the Pepperdine Philanthropy Lab. UCLA School of Dentistry students supported the mission in nonclinical roles, gaining firsthand experience in delivering dental care to patients with significant special needs in an operating room setting.

Isabelle Fox, Executive Director of Mending Kids, emphasized the importance of the mission.

Mending Kids has a broader goal of expanding these missions while also bringing greater attention to the need for access to this care across the state. Families, medical providers, educators, and community organizations interested in referring a child, teen, or young adult with special needs for a future Hometown Mission can call Mending Kids at 800 993 5680 or refer a patient online at mendingkids.org/htm.html.

Since its founding, Mending Kids has provided surgical care to thousands of children from more than 78 countries. The organization is known for its global health work, but this mission highlights a critical need right in their own community.