— from Hilary Canty —
We all strive to leave a place a little better than we found it. As Dr. Steve and Rita Bailey prepare to leave Orcas for the next chapters in their lives, they can rest assured that they accomplished this goal in a big way in this community.
Six years ago, the results of a survey of people living in poverty in our community cited access to dental care as the number one issue impacting their well-being. Many reported living with chronic dental pain, missing or impacted teeth, and infection with little or no way to receive care.
These results caught the attention of the local dentists and the Orcas Island Community Foundation. Rita Bailey began to research solutions and soon a partnership developed including all three local dentists, Medical Teams International, the Community Church, and the Community Foundation. Rita established an all-volunteer team to run the dental van on Orcas four times each year including: retired nurse Barbara Ehrmantraut to help plan and oversee, local hygienists and assistants to work the van, and the Lions and Kiwanis Clubs for patient intake. Local donors have generously supported the cost of bringing the van, and housing for visiting dentists has been contributed by Rosario, the Inn at Ship Bay, Nelson’s Bayview Cottages, the Outlook Inn, and SeaStar Lodging.
Since 2012, hundreds of islanders have received dental care through this program. Many additional dentists and hygienists have volunteered as well, including Dr. Chris and Kathy Wood, the new dentist and hygienist, who will take on Dr. Bailey’s practice. All in all, over $380,000 in services has been donated through the MTI dental van (this figure does not include the dozens of dentures that have also been provided).
Dr. Steve and Rita Bailey will continue to support our local dental van clinic, now as a visiting dentist and support team. Barbara Ehrmantraut will move into a lead role as manager, and Noreene Nealy has joined as the new support staff.
Thank you Dr. Steve and Rita Bailey for leaving us with smiles and for all you have contributed during your years on Orcas. You will be missed and your legacy of service will be carried on. We wish you joy in the adventures ahead.
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What remarkable, giving people. Thank you Steve and Rita. And best of luck in all the wonders that are ahead of you.
Will miss you and your wonderful family terribly!
Wishing both of you and your family the very best. Thank you for the time you were here. You will be missed!
The Baileys have given so much – more than the donated time and the energy it took to establish the van — the sports teams in which the kids participated, the theater productions and talent acts, the generosity to individuals in need in small moments.
The loss of their house from the suspicious (arson) fire was such travesty– to anyone but seemed even more unjust happening to people who gave us so much.
We send you onward with good memories and warm best wishes.
Dr. Bailey and Rita – I will miss you so much! Thanks for all your kindnesses to me and to other low income people in the community. I appreciate you SO VERY MUCH! What a loss to the island! May you flourish in your next adventures but i can’t help feeling sad for us to be losing your wonderful family. Thank you for all you have given and done to make this community a better place. I can only hope we still attract people like you here on Orcas. I know you will make wherever you go a better place, because that is who you are.
I love what you wrote, Sadie.
Great Gratitude to Dr. Bailey and Rita,
*Much love & Blessings on your Path*
Come visit, and call first..Picnic at the Lake? :)
When we first moved to Orcas, and before we found medical professionals, I was in the airport waiting for a Kenmore flight along with a few other people I didn’t know. A young girl came into the airport, saw someone she knew, and ran up to him squealing “Dr. Bailey”!! She was so happy to see him. We figured that any dentist who generated that much enthusiasm in children was worth a try, and we were right. Best wishes for the future! So sad to see you go!
Well said, Sadie Bailey, and well seconded, Susan Slapin. Make this a third endorsement to the general sentiment…Orcas will sorely miss the Bailey family, but we hold them in the light.