PLAINFIELD TOWNSHIP, Mich.— A grant from the Delta Dental Foundation is helping to protect smiles in Plainfield Township.

The foundation donated $100,000 to the Michigan Department of Community Health Oral Health Program to start or maintain community water fluoridation programs for residents, which prevent cavities.  The state divvied up the money for nine communities.  Plainfield Township is receiving $12,522 of it.

The chief medical executive with the Michigan Department of Community Health says studies have shown oral health is key to overall health. On January 25, 1945,  Grand Rapids became the first city in the U.S. to add fluoride to its water system. Now, nearly 90 percent of Michigan communities with a water system have access to fluoridated water.

 This is the fourth year for the fluoridation grants.  The other recipients include Kalamazoo ($8,076); Battle Creek ($18,775) and Benton Harbor ($2,667).

Now’s your chance to get a meal while helping people with kidney disease.

On Thursday, April 11, Noodles & Company will donate 25% of sales at its Michigan restaurants to the National Kidney Foundation of Michigan.  To guarantee the donation, guests must mention the foundation or present a flyer when ordering.   The benefit runs from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. at all Michigan locations, including restaurants at  5070 28th St. SE in Cascade Township, 2289 East Beltline in Grand Rapids Township, and 5363 W. Main St. in Kalamazoo.

Guests can also donate $1 to be entered into the NKFM raffle.  The grand prize winner will take home a Kindle Fire e-reader; other prizes include free noodles for a year or a dinner for four.  All proceeds from the raffle will go to the National Kidney Foundation of Michigan.

This is the fourth year for the benefit.

*Message from Northview High School

WANTED: CAN TABS

Don’t forget. Students in the Daily Living Skills class at Northview High School are still collecting can tabs for the Ronald McDonald House here in Grand Rapids. Northview’s wonderful community members continue to drop off tabs by the bag full. We have already filled 15 jugs! The students are very hopeful that number will grow.

We are so thankful to the community for their support of this project and ask for your continued support. The pop tabs are a valuable resource for the Ronald McDonald House. They are recycled; generating much-needed funds to support the House and the nearly 500 families served each year.