Camille's Bites of Life

Last summer, I decided to do something a little different with Instagram. Instead of just sharing photos from my trip to Poland, I used the platform to run a small fundraiser for a cause that’s been close to my heart for a long time: improving access to basic dental hygiene in rural communities. The fundraiser focused on two small towns, Tykocin and Łas Toczyłowo, where access to dental clinics is limited and preventive care is often overlooked.

Along with collecting dental hygiene supplies, I created simple, easy-to-follow hygiene guides to emphasize the importance of daily oral care, routine cleanings, and long-term maintenance. I wrote these flyers in Polish, which not only made them more accessible to the community but also gave me a meaningful opportunity to practice the language and connect more deeply with my roots. In areas like this, education is just as important as the supplies themselves—especially when professional dental care isn’t always easy to access.

I worked closely with my aunt, who lives in Łas Toczyłowo and works at a nearby hospital. When I traveled to Poland in July, I brought the hygiene kits directly to her home, and she helped distribute them to both children and adults in the surrounding communities.

This initiative means a great deal to me because I’ve seen firsthand how dental health was often deprioritized growing up in Poland, particularly in rural areas. Many of my own family members are still dealing with the long-term effects of that lack of early care. Being able to give back in this way felt like a small but meaningful step toward changing that narrative—one hygiene kit at a time.