SUCESS STORIES
On The Road Again: A Tooth Taxi Update
Tooth Taxi Reaches the Million Dollar Mark in Donated Dental Services
by Mary Daly, Program Manager, Tooth Taxi
Update Number 33 | 8/31/09 | Albany Boys & Girls Club
With a full corps of volunteers the Tooth Taxi spent a week at the Albany Boys & Girls Club. Retired dentist and frequent Tooth Taxi volunteer Dr. Mike Goger rallied local dental professionals from his home community to fill out the schedule for the week. We reached new milestones with our number of volunteers -28 and our value of donated dental services in the first year – $1,001,472.
In addition to dental professionals we had tremendous support staff. Stephanie Hagerty of the Albany General Hospital Foundation kept us well fed all week providing lunches and snacks. Stephanie also spent the week “manning” the Tooth Taxi registration table in the Boys & Girls Club along with Amy Langdon, Resource Development Director for the Boys & Girls Club.
Many of you may have seen our story on KATU news, Salem Bureau Chief Melica Johnson and the photographer spent quite a bit of time interviewing us and shooting scenes from the Tooth Taxi. A morning event edited down to 1.5 minutes: www.katu.com
Other visitors to the Tooth Taxi, Foundation supporters Joe & Laine Simon of Albany.
1st time Tooth Taxi Volunteers: Dr. Patty Parker and assistant Stacey Gerger. They also recruited Nicole Rose who is interested in hygiene. Carol Love assisted Dr. Goger with screenings throughout the week. Erin Licht an OSU public health major, helped out at the registration table.
1st time Tooth Taxi Volunteer Dr. Patty Parker
Charity Blankenship assisted returning volunteer Dr. Doug Johnson, they were joined by Sylvia Galbasini who is working towards hygiene school.
Other first time volunteers: Dr. Walt Manning joined us with assistant Patty Gallagher. Dr. Lane Harris and assistant Heidi Harris and Dr. Steven Wirth. Dr. Susan Wong and assistant Rowena Stewart, Pediatric dentist Dr. Jay Vaikuntam and assistant Jenn McClaughry.
Patty Gallagher, Dr. Walt Manning & Tooth Taxi Patient
Dr. Lane Harris and assistant Heidi Harris w/ Patient
Dr. Steven Wirth w/patient Emily
Dr. Vaikuntham & Assistant Jenn
Mandy Haven had her first tour of duty on the Tooth Taxi with returning volunteer Dr. Jeff Carl. Other Tooth Taxi veterans: Dr. Chris Walker and assistant Vanessa Wren, Dr. Doug Johnson, Dr. Jon Woods and assistants Michelle Nevin and Julie Reynolds. Dr. Mike Goger, Dr. Janet Peterson and Stephanie Hagerty. Molly Morse, RDH worked the portable hygiene chair and brought us tomatoe's from the garden.
Mandy Haven with returning volunteer Dr. Jeff Carl
An added benefit for the kids last week, Jodi Loper came down from the Salem Boys & Girls Club dental clinic to provide oral hygiene education to kids.
Jodi Loper provide oral hygiene education to kids
From the kid gallery:
Dental assistant to patient when taking x-rays: “You did eat some of my glove, oh my goodness.”
After Dr. Goger screened a little boy, his patient asked, “Can I swallow?” Yes. “Good, I have a major spitball!”
“ah, this is relaxing” – from a patient who was reclining to watch Tom & Jerry, she was in the van for a 2nd appointment. She wore her Shrek t-shirt as she had watched Shrek when she was in on Monday for her first appointment.
And from a hesitant patient to the dentist – “Don’t you think it’s a bit early to be doing this?”
The Dr. asked a four year old - what kind of movies do you like to watch? “scary movies”
Dr. Goger met with a very apprehensive patient about his appointment for the next day. When the patient saw Dr. Goger in the a.m. - “Hi Dr. thanks for giving me a break this morning.” Dr. replied: “We all need a break sometimes – we’ll be ready for you in 5 minutes guy.”
In addition to another successful week and adventure on the Tooth Taxi we completed our first full year of service and our first one million dollars of free dental care. Although it is easy to celebrate the success of this, our greater success is the stories from the lives that we’ve touched and the positive dental experience and education provided to children.
Albany Boys & Girls Club stats:
August 31- September 3, 2009:
- 82 students screened
- 61 students treated in the van
- $25,712 value of free dental services provided.
Summary:
Tooth Taxi, September 4, 2008- September 3, 2009
- 4251 students screened
- 359 students received oral hygiene education in the classroom
- 1582 students treated in the van
- $1,001,742 value of free dental services provided.
Next week on the road:
Oregon Child Development Coalition (OCDC) in Ashland
Regards, Mary