PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — Though its annual Festival of Trees fundraiser fell victim to the pandemic, the nonprofit St. Apollonia Dental Clinic in Presque Isle nevertheless raised tens of thousands of dollars in a 2020 donation drive.
Many donations came in memory of a late Van Buren woman who supported the clinic’s efforts to improve dental hygiene across Aroostook County.
On Monday, executive director Norma Desjardins said St. Apollonia had raised $22,795 of its $33,000 end-of-year goal. Of those donations, 78 ($16,310) were made as part of its annual fund campaign and 67 ($6,485) came in memory of Patty Boutot, who died of breast cancer in June at age 55.
Patty Boutout appears in an undated photo. (Courtesy of St. Apollonia Dental Clinic)
Before she passed, Boutot — who was Desjardins’ sister-in-law — had requested that St. Apollonia be the charity of choice for those who would like to donate in her memory.
Donations ranged from $15 to $3,000. Desjardins said contributions came from both new donors and those who had previously taken part in the Festival of Trees, held in Presque Isle since 2014 but canceled this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
St. Apollonia has asked for donations through the mail and social media, also accepting donations on its website through Paypal. The money will help pay the clinic’s operating expenses.
Desjardins said one of the clinic’s primary goals is health equity — ensuring that every child has access to quality dental care.
About 10 percent of children aged 2-18 did not have dental benefits in 2015, according to American Dental Association data, though that number has seen significant improvements in recent years.
Of the children who had dental benefits, 51.3 percent received them from private health insurance and 38.5 percent from Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program. Similarly, St. Apollonia primarily treats patients under 21 who get dental insurance through MaineCare.
Boutot grew up in Van Buren, where her mother, Lorraine Desjardins, worked long hours to ensure that she could get her children dental and orthodontic care. Botout’s teeth, initially crooked, were straightened and beautified from the care.
Dr. Norma Desjardins, left, St. Apollonia Dental Clinic executive director, and Sherry Chamberland, Festival of Trees chairwoman, pose in November 2019 in front of a preview of the clinic’s Community Spirit Tree, featured during last year’s festival. This year the festival committee canceled the Festival of Trees amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. (Melissa Lizotte | The Star-Herald)
St. Apollonia also honored those who have donated in Boutot’s memory by holding the “12 Days of Smiles” event from mid-November to early December. On each day, the name of a 2020 patient of the clinic was drawn. The first 11 winners received a $100 VISA gift card, while the winner on the 12th day received a gift card, mini iPad and decorated tree.
Like dental clinics across the country, St. Apollonia has seen many changes because of the COVID-19 pandemic, including a period of closure after the pandemic hit Maine. As COVID-19 cases rise across Maine, it is continuing to operate, though Norma Desjardins said she had noticed a decline in patients as coronavirus cases rose across The County.
With the COVID-19 pandemic bringing more focus to the importance of health and health care across the United States, Desjardins said the number of donations the clinic had received showed the generosity of Aroostook County residents to help the clinic provide for youth.
“Just being able to get someone good oral health can really give them the self-esteem that they deserve,” Desjardins said. “It’s also just a better outcome for overall health.”
