SMILES FOR VETERANS


Joseph Daho (left) and Michael Stankewicz Auxiliary members in Illinois are changing veterans’


lives, one smile at a time. Montgomery and Bolingbrook Auxiliaries are


connecting veterans and active-duty military personnel with dentists willing to off er their services at a reduced rate through an initiative called Smiles for Veterans – formed by Auxiliary 7452 President Patricia DeVore and also supported by Auxiliary 5917. T ese Auxiliaries also fi nance (through fundraising


Patricia DeVore


SINCE DEVORE CREATED SMILES FOR VETERANS IN 2015, THE GROUP HAS BEEN ABLE TO HELP FOUR VETERANS AND ONE MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL GUARD.


and a few private donations) the balance of the negotiated-down cost of exams and procedures - dental surgery and/or restorative work - for veterans and soldiers who have been confi rmed as in need of dental care that would otherwise be unattainable. T e care is provided free of cost to veterans. Smiles for Veterans gave retired Marine Sgt. Michael


Stankewicz a new lease on life after a very dark chapter. Stankewicz lost his wife to cancer in 2012.


Devastated, a deep depression took over. He was in between jobs, and he couldn’t eat much. “I didn’t think I was going to make it,” he said. “I was


probably on the brink of suicide. I just gave up on life.” T en his front tooth broke off and a back tooth cracked and became very painful.


14 | VFW Auxiliary Magazine


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