Generosity Brings Smiles

After being shut down for one full year due to COVID-19 precautions, MobileSmiles Oklahoma went back on the road in March. The OEC Foundation sponsors the host location for the mobile dental unit—a project of the Oklahoma Dental Foundation. The RV unit has two dental chairs and can see up to 10 patients per day. Services are free of charge to the patient.

“MobileSmiles keeps my teeth from going mobile,” joked Michael Erickson, a MobileSmiles patient from Newalla.

MobileSmiles travels to different areas and certified, volunteer dentists treat a number of qualified patients each day. MobileSmiles has saved local patients tens of thousands of dollars since 2018 by holding events all across OEC's service area. One of these events was held in April at Hilltop Baptist Church in rural northeast Norman, southeast Oklahoma City.

OEC Foundation board member Vickie Gray initiated the event and the church pitched in to make it a success. Pastor Matt Hardin said,

Dental care is something we all need and the people out here are very thankful. We hope to host more events to reach more people.

Vicki Travis, Mastercare Food Pantry coordinator, was also instrumental in making the event successful through working with Director Gray on outreach and scheduling. [1526401001]

Following Hilltop, Director Gray helped coordinate another MobileSmiles stop at the Little Axe Community Center, thanks to Recreation Supervisor Gabby McGarrah who helped ensure this event reached those in the Little Axe community.

MobileSmiles is just one program made possible by the thousands of OEC members who choose to round up their electric bills to the nearest dollar each month. Operation Round Up ® (ORU) applications — individual and organizational — are available at www.okcoop.org/ORU.

Applications submitted by May 17 will be reviewed at the next meeting. Contact Education and Outreach Programs Director Tory Tedder-Loffland at ORU@okcoop.org or 405-217-6726 for questions regarding the program or application process.