Beverage assn.’s dental grant aids women vets

The American Beverage Association has provided a grant of $9,000 for the New Mexico Women Veterans Smile program, which offers donated dental services to qualified women veterans.

The program began last year through a collaboration between New Mexico Women Veterans, the New Mexico Dental Association Foundation and the New Mexico Beverage Association. Dentists and staff statewide donate their time and services for those who are unable to obtain care through the Veterans Administration, which limits dental services to veterans who are 100 percent disabled. So far, the program has provided treatment for 10 women veterans, six are in the application process and seven are on a waiting list.

The American Beverage Association grant is a 50 percent match to the $18,000 donation made last year by the New Mexico Beverage Association, bringing the total donated to the veterans dental program by the beverage industry to $27,000. The money is used for case management, lab fees and prosthetics.

The New Mexico Women Veterans Smile program was started by volunteers Kyla and Roger Thompson, who received a Spirit of New Mexico Award in 2016 for their work on behalf of veterans.