The Iowa Mission of Mercy (IMOM) was conducted this year a little differently than usual. Typically, there is one large event lasting two days, and it is hosted in bigger cities in large venues like convention centers and sports arenas. Dentists, dental assistants, dental hygienists, dental lab techs, and a wide variety of lay people volunteer their time to provide free dental work for fellow Iowans. Due to Covid-19 the event was cancelled in 2020, but in 2021 it was decided to have participants host the event in their own private offices across the state throughout the month of October.

Drs. Jordan and Micheal Moffitt of Eagle Grove decided to host IMOM on October 29. They spread the word and invited several other dentists and dental staff members to come to Eagle Grove and volunteer to serve those in need. Happy to help Drs. Jordan and Micheal Moffitt were; Dr. Eric Knox, a Fort Dodge oral surgeon, Dr. Tom Bieber of Clear Lake, Dr. Lex (Cochrane) Cashmore, a Fort Dodge native now in Iowa City, Dr. Kyle Olson of Webster City, and Dr. Cody Olson of Humboldt. Patients taking advantage of the IMOM event came from Eagle Grove, Clarion, Humboldt, Webster City, Boone, and Fort Dodge to have exams, x-rays, fillings, and extractions. The Eagle Grove IMOM saw 38 patients, who were all scheduled for an hour each, and the doctors completed close to $45,000 in free dental work. Helping the doctors out were assistants Mariela Baez and Alix Rethman of Eagle Grove, Kiersten Carlson of Webster City, Cassie Eger of Fort Dodge, Miranda Book of Algona, Deb Weiland of Clear Lake, hygienist Maci Pickering of Eagle Grove, and volunteers Dave Boyd (an IMOM veteran from Ankeny), Nicole Moffitt and Kiera Matthes of Eagle Grove, and Adiele Butterfield of Badger. Even Fareway and Subway donated food for the volunteers.

Altogether across Iowa, there were 22 of these events throughout the month of October. There are several states that host their own Missions of Mercy, but Iowa boasts one of the most successful track records. The Iowa Dental Foundation, of which Dr. Jordan Moffitt is the Vice President, is the sponsor of the Iowa Mission of Mercy which has helped over 15,000 Iowans, and donated over $10 million worth of free dentistry over the past 12 years that they have held the event, except for 2020. Nationwide, the Missions of Mercy have helped almost 300,000 people and donated more than $200 million in free dental work.