ARCOLA - Marcedes Singleton is a dedicated and compassionate dental hygienist, and she is preparing for an extraordinary journey that will take her to Tela, Honduras.
Singleton was born and raised in the Arcola area by her parents Darcy and Carrie, who remain in the area on the family farm. She has a younger brother Nicholas.
When Marcedes Singleton completed Grade 12, she wanted to enter a field that involved helping people. It took her a few years after graduating to figure out she wanted to be in the dental field.
She went to Saskatoon to become a dental assistant, which she did for two years, but she wanted more. Marcedes took a condensed program over 18 months in Ottawa; normally it takes three years to complete.
She loves the dental field and is always furthering her education through the newest studies, through research, but she also loves to educate people about the importance of dental hygiene.
Singleton's career as a dental hygienist has been built on her love for helping people, particularly children, to help them achieve better oral health.
The opportunity to go to Honduras is a dream come true for Singleton, and she is excited about the trip.
Honduras, like many developing countries, faces a significant lack of dental resources, especially in rural areas. For many children, access to even basic dental care is limited, if not non-existent.
Singleton said last year a group went to Guatemala. People walked for kilometres and lined up by the hundreds to get the help they needed.
“Doing a dental trip to Honduras has been a dream of mine for a long time,” said Singleton. “I am looking forward to helping a population who truly appreciates dental care, as many here take it for granted.”
“This is my first trip here," she added.
The program is through Change the Children and she will leave from Jan. 25-Feb. 1, 2025. They bring all their own equipment and supplies, which carries a cost.
Other expenses are food and accommodations while they are there. She is going with a group of 15-20 people: six are dentists, two are assistants and she is the only hygienist. All the others are volunteers.
To help offset her costs, Singleton is holding a draw for a $300 gift basket that is loaded with dental care items.
Tickets are available through Singleton and the draw will be held Dec. 1.
Singleton is excited to learn of the culture, the people, and the way of life in Honduras, while helping people at the same time.
