Nearly 2,000 volunteers—including dentists, clinicians, opticians, ophthalmologists, nurses, imaging technicians and general helpers—will come together to provide free dental, vision and hearing care at this year’s Mission of Mercy Pittsburgh (MOMPGH). The annual event is scheduled for Friday, Oct. 24, and Saturday, Oct. 25, at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in downtown Pittsburgh.
The clinic is completely free and open to adults and children ages 2 and older. There are no income, insurance or eligibility requirements. Doors will open at 6 a.m. daily and close when capacity is reached. Patients will be seen on a first-come, first-served basis.
Free Care Services Available
Patients may receive a wide range of services, including:
- Dental—Exams, cleanings, fillings, extractions, root canals, x-rays and oral hygiene instruction. Pediatric dentists will provide specialized care for children.
- Vision—Eye exams, eyeglass fittings and free prescription eyeglasses.
- Hearing—Hearing screenings, fittings and free hearing aids.
- Health Screening—Patients with high blood pressure will receive free home monitoring devices and education from the American Heart Association.
Addressing Critical Needs
The need for free care in the region continues to increase. In 2024, 58 percent of MOMPGH patients had no insurance and 35 percent arrived with dental pain, with one-third of those patients living with that pain for more than a year. Hearing aids and eyeglasses remain unaffordable for many, often costing thousands of dollars out-of-pocket.
MOMPGH helps fill a gap. In 2024, the nonprofit organization served 1,676 patients and conducted 9,374 dental procedures. Additional services provided in 2024 included conducting 693 eye and 402 hearing exams and distributing 552 free pairs of eyeglasses and 586 free hearing aids. All told, Mission of Mercy Pittsburgh delivered $2.37 million in services last year with the help of 1,978 volunteers.
“We aim to serve as many members of our community as possible each year,” says Keith Young, Mission of Mercy Pittsburgh Board Member. “This humanitarian event truly represents the soul of the city, and we are thankful for the compassionate and caring volunteers—both new and returning—who give their valuable time to make this all happen.”
lSince its founding in 2017, Mission of Mercy Pittsburgh has delivered $9.2 million in free care to 8,941 patients.
More Volunteers Needed
Dental volunteers, including physicians, dentists, nurse practitioners and hygienists, are still needed for this year’s clinic. Many dental volunteers can receive up to three hours of Continuing Education credits for their work with MOMPGH. To learn more or to register as a volunteer, visit MOMPgh.org/volunteer.
View the “Mission of Mercy Pittsburgh 2024 Event” video here.
View the 2024 “Soul of a City” video here.
