When Dave Claffey smiles or bites into a juicy steak, he’ll have the Moose Jaw Elks to thank for ensuring he has a set of teeth that fits just right.
Claffey has health issues in his throat that required him to receive radiation and chemotherapy. The side effect of this treatment is it weakened his teeth, which meant they were likely to fall out.
This is where the Moose Jaw Elks Lodge and the Saskatchewan Elks Association stepped in. Since Claffey was facing financial troubles, both organizations provided $3,000 for Claffey to have his teeth pulled and new dentures fitted. The Moose Jaw lodge covered 10 per cent — or $300 — of the cost, while the provincial lodge covered the rest through its foundation.
Sitting in a dentist’s chair at Main Street Dental Clinic on Sept. 9, Claffey flashed a smile to show off his new dentures. He acknowledged that it was exciting to have a new set of pearly whites.
“It’s better than not,” he chuckled, adding the dentures don’t feel too bad in his mouth.
Dr. Kell Viczko, who assisted with the procedure, pointed out it will take some time for Claffey to become used to the new dentures since they are a foreign object in his mouth.
Before the chemo and radiation began, the dental clinic pulled Claffey’s teeth and started the process to fit him with dentures so he could acquire his smile again, explained Melanie Hopkinson, treatment co-ordinator. Now that he is wearing them, they look amazing in his mouth.
“I like it when a woman compliments me,” joked Claffey.
Chris Svab, president of the Saskatchewan Elks Association, explained the organization has a foundation to help kids up to age 18 with health issues, while it has another foundation to help adults. The organization has supported a few Moose Javians over the years, including purchasing a handicap van for an individual.
“It’s nice to get help. If I needed it, I would appreciate it,” Svab said. “It (the funding) was there, and so he (Claffey) applied and he got it.”
The Moose Jaw Elks usually supports other community organizations every year, such as the food bank and Hunger in Moose Jaw, while it creates scholarships for high school students. In 2019 the local lodge donated more than $30,000 to various groups.
However, Svab pointed out the club won’t donate too much this year since it hasn’t had much chance to fundraise. Some fundraisers included volunteering at car shows and holding a football pool.
“We have 54 lodges in the province and all of them are hurting,” he added. “But, we’re still here.”
