A Medical Teams International volunteer works with a patient in one of the Mobile Dental vans.

Photo courtesy Medical Teams International

Local nonprofits are working hard to help people in Washington battle the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, Boeing employees are doing their part to ensure those nonprofit organizations have all the tools they need to do the job efficiently and effectively.

Today, the nonprofit Medical Teams International announced that the Employees Community Fund of Boeing Puget Sound (ECF) has awarded them a $40,000 grant. It is one of nearly 20 new grants ECF will unveil in the coming weeks.

This gift will be used to purchase three rebuilt generators for Medical Teams International’s Mobile Dental Vans, which are serving an integral role in nonprofit’s COVID-19 testing throughout the state. Medical Teams is an official testing agent and partner for both Seattle and King County as well as the Washington State Department of Health. 

The gift will also fund the purchase six surgical handpieces, four drill maintenance systems, and 24 Cavitron tips.

“We are so grateful for the commitment to Medical Teams International from the Employees Community Fund of Boeing Puget Sound,” said Debra Hirsh, Medical Teams Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations.  “This employee led fund made their first gift to Medical Teams in 1998 and has supported the Mobile Dental Program in Puget Sound since 2002.  As we work to break barriers to health, we can only accomplish this through partnerships with others than join with us to help vulnerable people in our communities.  Thank you for your compassion and generous hearts.”

Members of the Medical Teams International team have been administering COVID-19 tests to underserved communities across Washington state since March, in order to stem the spread and ensure that people in need of care are able to receive proper treatment. The organization has also continued its Mobile Dental Program throughout Washington and Oregon during this time.

While the COVID-19 work is relatively new for Medical Teams International, ECF has recognized and supported their efforts repeatedly, funding a total of $340,000 in direct grants over the years.

“The ECF Puget Sound Chapter is honored to support local Health & Human Service nonprofits who are on the frontlines of helping our neighbors get through the social and economic impact of COVID-19 because of the generosity of Boeing employee contributions to ECF,” said John Annes, ECF grantmaker. “One of the recently released grants is to Medical Teams International to purchase equipment for their mobile dental outreach program, which is staffed by volunteer dental professionals and are free of charge to patients. This grant will help bring dental care to homeless and low-income individuals in our community who need it most, many of which have postponed preventative care during the pandemic.”

The ECF grant will help refurbish several of Medical Teams International’s Mobile Dental Vans, which are serving an integral role in nonprofit’s COVID-19 testing throughout the state.

Photo courtesy Medical Teams International