“Please take a moment to read Curt’s own words below and help in any way you can.”

via GoFundMe

Thanks to Lindsay for writing: “Mr. Canada is the garden teacher at Stoddert Elementary in Glover Park. Mr. Canada does not encounter strangers; from the second you meet him, he is sharing food from his garden and engaging in meaningful conversation. He has patiently worked toward resolving this medical situation on his own, never remotely hinting at his daily obstacles, let alone asking for help. Hoping those of us in a position can contribute and take some of the burden off this amazing human!”

The GoFundMe:

“It is impossible to spend time with Curt Canada and not feel grateful for his huge heart. He is a soulful man who feels so deeply, but I have never seen him fully smile. He always positions his mouth in a way to prevent anyone from seeing his missing teeth because of how self conscious he is. On top of that, his inability to chew his food has started to seriously impact his physical health. I met Curt this past Spring and got to know him throughout the year on my near daily trips to get some fresh air, which often took me by the garden. Curt is one of the most generous and loving people I have ever met, and I feel so incredibly humbled and honored to play a small role in helping him raise funds to be able to afford dental implants. Please take a moment to read Curt’s own words below and help in any way you can.

Words from Curt Canada

Over the past two years, most of my coworkers, students, and parents know me as the garden teacher at Stoddert Elementary School, where on most days you can find me in the garden.

Some of them know that I champion eating healthier foods. What some of them do not know is that I have now gone for over two years without my lower teeth and some of my teeth in the top of my mouth. This led to a removal of a polyp from my colon which luckily was benign.

I am an excellent example of what could and will happen if you lose your teeth.

You lose your health which consists of being lethargic, lose your self-esteem, you begin to gain weight, loss of sleep, and then you become depressed.

You’re ashamed to open your mouth. You only look at people’s mouths. You begin to isolate yourselves from others.

I suffer from stomach pained problems with digestion. I do not sleep well.

I thank my friend Christie Catan and her dog Otis for their desire to start a GoFundMe page. I have exhausted all my efforts though I have saved most of my salary to partially finance new teeth. I thought by now after an unbelievable improvement in my credit score, I would be able to get a loan.

So here I am finally asking for your donation to help me begin to experience the vegetables I grow in our school garden and to get my smile back.

So it takes a little courage and a willingness to ask. I’m a notorious giver learning that it’s absolutely okay to receive.

I ask your help so that I can keep on helping others. Most importantly to help others who are faced with the inability to finance their dental care. I am mindful that there are so many others here in America with healthcare issues also.

– Curt Canada

Breakdown of How the Funds We Raise Will Be Used
Clear Choice Dental implant procedure phase 1 (ASAP): $34,000
Clear Choice Dental implant procedure phase 2 in a year from now for final teeth: $20,000

Humbly and Hopefully,
Team Curt :)”