During the year each Dental Resident spends 5 weeks working at our clinic so we’d like you to…

Get To Know Our Dentist:

Name: Seema Basati
Home Town: Calgary

Why did you decide to become a Dentist? There are numerous reasons why I became a dentist: my passion for science and the art and the ability to flawlessly combine the two, to serve the community, to travel the world, to continually increase my skill set, however the ultimate reason lies in the foundation created when I was around the age of 7. As a child I got into a playground accident which left me with a bloody mouth and multiple missing and broken teeth. This traumatic experience forced me to spend countless hours in the dental chair and it was here I realized exactly what a dentist offers. With each appointment I realized how transforming one’s smile can directly influence and transform one’s life. I was a shy, extremely awkward child who refused to smile. My dentist was able to build my self-esteem and restore my confidence and this ability to change people’s perception of themselves and those around them was the main reason I chose dentistry.

Have you ever worked in a free clinic or a Non-Profit  Organization before?
I have been fortunate enough to work in the both free clinics and non-profit organizations. I went to dental school in New York and as a volunteer worked with inner city kids to provide free dental check-ups, dental health education, and cleanings. I also worked for a a number of non-profit organizations in rural India where I provided free dental exams, fillings, extractions, and polio vaccines. It was a great experience and I feel I learned significantly more than what I offered.

What do you think you will gain from being at the Dental  Clinic at Kelowna’s Gospel Mission?
There are many things I hope to gain while working here however I think the most important life lesson is how pivotal it truly is to give back to the community. I am thankful for the opportunity to meet each patient and listen and learn from their life stories because each one is truly unique and I feel as much as I can teach patients about good oral care I can learn a great deal from them.

Have you been to the Okanagan before? No, which makes my experience here even more enjoyable because driving through does not count

Other than work, any plans while you are here? I made a list of to dos but ultimately my goal will be to visit a few wineries, eat everything Kelowna has to offer (I’ll take suggestions) and enjoy the beautiful weather and water.

Exciting news from our Dental Clinic. We’ve undergone a bit of a renovation, including an equipment upgrade. Our dental clinic is sporting 3 “new-to-us” dental chairs, and that makes 3 FULL functioning operatory suites, along with a digital imaging x ray centre. What does this mean? It’s means that  we will be able to increase the number of patients that we see, and help get even more people out of pain.

Gospel Mission Executive Director Randy Benson is delighted. “It is so gratifying that the community support allows us to  outfit our clinic with top quality equipment. This creates a stress free experience for our dentists, our volunteers and especially our patients.”

Director of Dental Services, Shirley Goebel says,  ”The clinic is working hard to meet the needs of our community, but the need for basic dental care is still great. For those with limited means, we remain the only dental option.”

We’d also like to welcome our newest resident dentist Dr Seema Basati. ( Dr Basati is excited about the chairs too! ) Kelowna’s Gospel Mission Dental Clinic is one of her last rotations before she travels to New York to start her specialized training in Root Canals and Implants in the Fall.

Since opening in 2004, Kelowna’s Gospel Mission Dental Clinic we have had over 4600 patient visits.

For more information on Kelowna’s Gospel Mission Dental Clinic CLICK HERE.

Bikeathon takes place June 16, 2012 at the Mission Park Greenway. It is a non – competitive, family friendly, fun event suitable for all ages and abilities.  Register to ride, either 15km or 30km, and gather team-mates and pledges to help us reach our goal of  $30,000.

This year we are very excited to announce Belgian national cycling champion and Olympic medalist, Axel Merckx, will be a guest rider in the Bikeathon!  As you may have heard, Axel now lives in the Okanagan and hosts his own event, the Valley First Granfondo Axel Merckx Okanagan. So we encourage you to Gear UP! Join 30K and Axel Merckx on June 16th!

All monies raised go to the 30K Club, a monthly donor program which supports services offered to Kelowna’s Gospel Mission clients who are taking steps to transition from dependence to independence. Each month, your gift helps these clients find a home and connect with programs that ensure their long term success.

This year’s Bikeathon could not have happened without some great communitysponsors who have come on board. We would like to make special mention of our Presenting Sponsor Vital Waters and our media sponsors Power 104 & Q 103.1.

To register for Bikeathon click here.

It’s National Volunteer Appreciation week!

We’ve run the numbers, double checked them and yes it is confirmed…we truly could not do what we do without our volunteers.

From cooking, cleaning, working in the store to sitting and talking with our guests, volunteers are an integral part of what we do.

For that we thank them!

Here are just some of the more than 300 individuals who volunteer their time with us:

Kelowna – Lake Country MP Ron Cannan was one of those people who helped to launch the 30K Club and has been an ardent support ever since.  We caught up with him at one of our events and Ron talked about why 30K Club is important.

I first started using the KGM for meals when I became homeless 5 years ago. I started staying here 1 week ago.

What were the events that lead you to seeking help?

I have struggled with addiction since a teenager & my last room-mate went out of town to work & didn’t pay the rent & hydro and I was instantly evicted

What services have you taken part in?

Helping clean up, doing my part

What has been the most helpful aspect of coming here?

Safe, warm & secure

How has your life changed?

I am waiting to go into treatment

Where do you think you would be today had you not come to Kelowna’s Gospel Mission?

On the street

What would you like to say to people in the community about what Kelowna’s Gospel Mission and 30K Club have done for you?

Should have been done a long time ago [women's emergency shelter at KGM], more beds for women are needed in Kelowna

Is there anything else you would like to add?

I appreciate the services provided. the staff are awesome, all of them

To Whom it May Concern:

I suffer from clinical depression and I have been a alcoholic & a drug addict since I was 12 years old. KGM was my safety net when I fell. Not only did they feed, cloth me & give me a place to sleep and shower. They fed me spiritually by the grace of God I have found the strength to stay clean. The guidance and compassion KGM has shwon me has saved my life.

God Bless K.G.M

Little Danny

When did you first come to Kelowna’s Gospel Mission?

2 weeks ago

What were the event that lead to you seeking help?

poverty related to divorce and unemployment

What services have you taken part in?

Referral to housing, meals

What has been the most helpful aspect of coming here?

Having a warm place that is open in the AM to go to

How has your life changed?

It has relieved me of immediate stress and has allowed the peace of mind to be able to seek employment

Where do you think you would be today had you not come to Kelowna’s Gospel Mission?

Without their assistance I might have had a deterioration in health and nutrition. I have been in the hospital at $1000+ per day.

What would you like to say to people in the community about what Kelowna’s Gospel Mission and 30K Club have done for you?

That it is worth supporting with donations and other supports like volunteers

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Many people are 1 pay cheque away from something like this, so they should support homeless. I never thought it would happen to me and I have two college degrees and more education-wise and it did.

This is his story.

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I grew up in a broken home and I had a very abusive upbringing. I was emotionally and physically tortured; during my elementary school years I became very violent and had behavior issues.

I started acting out and entered a life style of crime and drugs from an early age. I began drinking and smoking weed at the age of ten. By the time I was fourteen I was a full blown hard drug addict selling drugs and committing robberies to support my habit.

At the age of eighteen I was arrested for aggravated armed robbery and was facing four years in federal prison. At the same time, I had just returned from fighting in the Canadian championships in Judo, and I was losing my battle of living a double life.

In this season of my life I had lost almost everything and everyone and was so emotionally destroyed I entered into a multi-year suicide binge. I had overdosed and caused some damage to my heart (leading to my recent heart surgery) and accumulated some very large debts with very serious people. That ultimately lead me to Kelowna where I moved to Big White.

Through some unexplainable circumstances I ended up in front of Kelowna Gospel Fellowship Church and met two young “Jesus Freaks”, who were bold enough to share the love of Christ with me. After a few months and through the leading of the Holy Spirit I ended up in Teen Challenge. There I found out who I was created to be, not who I thought I was.

I ended up running a street ministry in the downtown area, and worked with the Salvation Army. I became Evening Hostel coordinator at Kelowna’s Gospel Mission through my friendship with staff members Jason and Trevor. Needless to say I think I am a good fit for Kelowna’s Gospel Mission. I believed my calling was to be on the front lines and I knew God would open doors for me, and he has tremendously.

The best part about working at the Gospel Mission is that I get quality time with clients and am able to share and listen on a more personal level. Because, at night, we are typically alone and away from the chaos of the general operation of the Mission. For example, I get to spend time with the guys if they can’t sleep and we can talk one on one, or if they come for assistance after curfew I’m able to open up, find the reason why they are late, and I am able to use my back ground and old life style to relate and speak into their lives.

I often share with the guys my story – from where I was, to where I am now. I don’t hide or shy away from talking about their drug use or behavior and will always encourage them to make good choices throughout the day.

My advice to the clients is don’t get comfortable where you are at; always keep moving forward, and it’s never too late and you are never too far gone! Now I enjoy life and life is more abundant. Since surrendering my old life my to Christ I’ve gained my health and have seen restoration in my relationships. I’ve traveled and ministered in Africa, Central America and Europe and I’ve also developed a successful street ministry that has lead hundreds to the Lord .

So be encouraged. We may not see immediate results but the “prayers of a righteous persons availith much” and will not return void. If I can be set free, healed and delivered then anyone can!

Andy Cake