Success Stories
On The Road Again: A Tooth Taxi Update
by Mary Daly, Program Manager, Tooth Taxi
Update Number 32 | 8/24/09 | Madras OCDC
Our second trip to Madras took us to the Oregon Child Development Coalition (OCDC) site. High School student Lydia Galan visited the Tooth Taxi when we were at Madras’ Buff Elementary in May and contacted me about volunteering with the Tooth Taxi during our summer visit. Lydia is interested in a dental hygiene career and attended OHSU career camp earlier in the year. Lydia spent an afternoon with us observing screenings and the work of our volunteer hygienist Virginia Olea. Virginia Olea, RDH volunteered with the Tooth Taxi for a second time, providing cleanings and sealants to kids. Other community volunteers were Dr. TJ Higbee and his assistant Janie Jaca as first time volunteers on the Tooth Taxi.
High School student Lydia Galan w/ Tooth Taxi Patient
Dr. TJ Higbee and his assistant Janie Jaca as first time volunteers
The Tooth Taxi team treated kids from 18 months – to a senior in high school, see attached photo of one of our younger patients at the “prize box” and a photo of James escorting a young girl to her appointment.
younger patient at the “prize box”
OCDC Madras stats:
August 24 - August 27, 2009
- 102 students screened
- 37 students treated in the van
- $30,443 value of free dental services provided.
Summary:
Tooth Taxi, September 2008 - August 27, 2009
- 4169 students screened
- 359 students received oral hygiene education in the classroom
- 1521 students treated in the van
- $976,0307 value of free dental services provided.
While the Tooth Taxi was in Madras last week, Holly Spruance (with our sponsor OEA Choice Trust), presented the Tooth Taxi program to the Jacksonville/Applegate Rotary Group. Ginny Hicks, Rotary member and Principal at Griffin Creek Elementary in Medford requested the presentation. The current Rotary president is Rex Miller, DDS.
Maurie Hicks (OEA Choice Trust Board of Trustee and president of the OEA Choice Trust Board) shared these comments with us that he received from the group after the presentation:
• “It was the best thing we have heard in a long time.”
• “Thanks for what you do for kids.”
• “It’s so nice to hear that something like this is being done out there.”
Maurie was stopped by a Rotarian a couple of nights ago, she said she went home and told her dad about the presentation, he is in Kiwanis and they may ask for a presentation on the Tooth Taxi as well. As Maurie said: “Another component of our outreach, at any rate I am happy that people like what we are doing.”
Next week on the road:
Community Transitional School in Portland
Next week’s recap:
Albany Boys & Girls Club
Regards, Mary
