Teams with BP Fueling Communities program to provide generous donation.

Roadrunner Markets has joined with BP to donate $15,000 to Keystone Dental Care Inc. (KDC) of Johnson City, Tenn. KDC is a charity whose mission is to provide dental care to adults in need in eight Northeast Tennessee counties.

“This is just a wonderful and much-needed gift,” said Keystone’s Executive Director Lisa Eggers. “We solely depend on grants and donations from the community to remain open. In 2012 we treated more than 2,000 patients who otherwise could not afford dental care, and this gift will allow us to continue helping those in need. ”

Currently nine area dentists and several dental hygienists and dental assistants volunteer their time at the clinic. There is an urgent need for more volunteer dentists, but one of the biggest expense for the clinic is dental supplies like gloves, composite for fillings, gowns, masks, cleaning supplies, cotton rolls, bite blocks and development for X-rays.

The Roadrunner and BP donation will help cover clinic expenses.

“BP has a program called ‘BP Fueling Communities’ and we partner with them to provide the donation,” said Ryan Broyles, president of Roadrunner Markets. “Each year we try to choose a charity that is making a difference in this community, and we know KDC is.”

This is the 13th year KDC has provided basic dental care to uninsured adults, such as cleanings, tooth extractions, cavity fillings and more.

“You’d be surprised how healthy dental care is linked to your overall health,” Eggers said. “So far this year we’ve done more than $30,000 worth of dental work just on those newly diagnosed with cancer. You can’t start cancer treatments until your dental work is treated. Other cases we’ve treated have been debilitating for those that simply needed a tooth pulled.”

For more information about Keystone Dental Care, or to find out how you can help, visit their Website at www.keystonedentalcare.com.   

Incorporated as Mountain Empire Oil in 1977, Roadrunner Markets is a family-owned business that operates 92 convenience stores throughout Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia.