Students from the Lyon College School of Dental Medicine have completed a major community service effort, collecting 2,350 food items for Our House in Little Rock—far surpassing their original goal. The project was spearheaded by the school’s Academy of General Dentistry (AGD) student chapter, with participation from the dental school’s inaugural class.
AGD chapter president Terry Miller said the idea for the food drive grew from a desire to meaningfully support Central Arkansas as the state’s first dental school.
“As future healthcare providers, we felt a responsibility to support the well-being of the broader community – not just in the clinic, but in ways that address basic needs like food security,” Miller said. “Our House does vital work for families experiencing homelessness and hardship, and partnering with them felt like a perfect opportunity for our student body to live out the school’s values of service, compassion and community engagement.”
Momentum grew quickly once the drive launched. A friendly class competition boosted participation, and students collected donations from friends, family, and hometown supporters. Local encouragement also played a big role.
“We received incredible encouragement from faculty and local dentists – especially Dr. Brian Skinner of Skinner Family Dentistry in Sherwood, who generously donated Visa gift cards for our top contributors,” Miller said. “His support added a fun level of excitement and definitely helped push us past our original goal.”
Some students went above and beyond. Miller noted standout contributions from Brianna Carmony, who collected nearly a quarter of the total items; Noah Pruitt, who delivered multiple truckloads of food; and Sarah Thompson, who supplied an impressive number of ramen boxes.
AGD officers — Vice President Erika Bittinger, Secretary Ravdeep Warar, Membership Engagement Chair Nour El Ammar, D1 Representative Karlee Carmony, and Treasurer Brianna Carmony — helped organize the drive, track donations, and keep classmates motivated.
The food collected will directly support families served by Our House, especially during a season of heightened need.
“We hope this donation eases some of the burden on Our House as they continue their essential work,” Miller said.
Founding dean Dr. Burke Soffe praised the initiative as a model of the school’s mission.
“This project reflects the heart of who we want our students to be — compassionate, community-minded leaders who understand that dentistry is about more than clinical skill,” Soffe said. “Their dedication to serving families in need shows the kind of impact they will make throughout their careers.”
Miller said the effort also brought the class closer through a shared purpose.
“It reminded us that our role as future dentists goes beyond clinical care. We are part of a community, and we have a responsibility to support it.”
For more information about the Lyon College School of Dental Medicine, visit lyoninstitute.com.
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