I went to Savannah for my family reunion with extra swagger,” said Jimmy Johnson with a smile that showed his new top and bottom dentures. The 65-year-old resident of Stone Mountain is one of dozens of low-income seniors who benefited from a $13,000 dental grant from Piedmont Hospital.

Johnson had lost his dentures and couldn’t afford to replace them. The shame that came from not having teeth stole some of his pride. He also was bored with soft foods.

“I’ll be fine if I never have mashed potatoes again,” Johnson with a shake of his head. “I’m eating better than I have in a long time. These dentures fit better than my old ones.”

What foods does he enjoy eating most now? “Cashews and corn-on-the-cob,” he said with another handsome smile.