For some of us, finding proper care when dental or vision problems arise is simple. For others, however, it is nearly impossible to find affordable treatment, and the care needed can be extensive and critical to overall health and wellbeing.
Many low-income families in the Kansas City community need dental and vision services for their children but cannot afford expensive treatment. As a non-profit organization providing free dental and vision care, LevelUp Kids is a huge benefit for many children because it allows them to see a dentist or an optometrist at no cost.
In a post-pandemic world, not only is it essential to maintain a healthy lifestyle for ourselves and our children, but it is also crucial to help those in need in our community more so than ever.
What Services Does LevelUp Kids Provide?
LevelUp Kids provides comprehensive dental and vision services through organized events at local schools and at our on-site treatment center. Dental services include comprehensive oral exams, fluoride and sealant treatments, stainless steel crowns, root canal therapy, and radiographs. Vision services include vision screenings, eye exams, and free eyeglasses for low-income children.
These services are all provided at no cost to the families of children receiving care, plus many others that LevelUp Kids is proud to offer.
Beyond dental and vision care, LevelUp Kids provides emotional support and a safe space for children when they need someone to lean on. We feel we’ve made a big difference in many situations since we know that sometimes children need more than just a fixed tooth.
Extending Our Gratitude
We want to extend a huge thank you to our sponsors and the schools we’ve partnered with to provide access to care for children in our community. As of June 2021, we’ve already seen 69% more children than we saw in 2020. Without your support, it would not be possible for LevelUp Kids to provide the level of care we can offer to these children.
During the pandemic year (2020-2021), we provided vision screenings to 14,019 students, free eye exams to 519 students, and gave out 518 free pairs of eyeglasses. Our dental team was also able to provide comprehensive dental exams to 1,202 children in the school setting. Although we had limited access to students during this time, we were still able to provide dental services for 3,600 children.
Thank you to the following school districts that allowed our team into the schools during the COVID-19 pandemic to provide dental and vision care to students:
We are grateful to the H&R Block Foundation for funding the equipment for a fourth exam room in our office. During the pandemic, we were able to schedule more visits in our office when schools were closed.
We would also like to thank our sponsors for their support of our school-based healthcare services which provide dental and vision care. Our dental and vision care services were crucial during the COVID-19 pandemic when schools were closed. Thank you to the following companies and individuals:
Patterson Dental/VOCO
David Miles
Josh and Charla Bushkofsky
Anita Gorman and Gwen Royle
Joe Jacobs
David Zimmer
Your monthly donation matters! Every:
$20 provides fluoride varnish treatments for ten children.
$40 buys oral health kits (new toothbrush, toothpaste, and floss) for up to five patients.
$75 pays for sealants on four molars, protecting them from decay.
$150 gives two kids free eyeglasses.
$250 to Sponsor a Child! This covers one dental appointment, eye exam, and eyeglasses for one child.
What People Are Saying About LevelUp Kids
Our experience working with many families in need of vision and dental care has given us a unique insight into what our staff members see day-to-day when treating children. Multiple families have benefitted from the services offered and have come forward with their stories. We are so grateful that these families have shared their stories with us, so we want to share them with you. Feedback like this gives us even more drive to do what we do every day.
1. This sweet first grader was seen in the school with widespread decay and infection. It's easy to feel frustrated when we see it so often. The tears in mom's voice when I called to discuss treatment, though, were a wake-up call.
"Everyone thinks I'm just a bad mom," she said. "I'm trying so hard, but it's just not enough. My older son has special needs and has doctors' appointments all the time. My car broke down, and I don't have the money to fix it. I don't have any way to get them the help they need."
This brave boy had work that went beyond what we could comfortably complete in the school setting, so we teamed up with the school social worker to find transportation to a specialist, and in the process, this family received more than just dental care - they came away knowing that they were seen and valued and important. It's easy to forget how much harder some lives are than my own. This year more than ever, there are so many like this mom, who are trying so hard, and it's just not enough.
I am thankful every day for the opportunity to come alongside these families and lighten their burdens. What a privilege!
2. "I used to have a cat. My mom couldn't pay the rent on our old apartment, and they kicked us out. We had to leave suddenly, and we weren't allowed to have pets in the next place. My mom said the neighbors would take care of our cat, but I don't know if they did. I worry about her so much."
The longer I work for LevelUp Kids, the more I realize that our patients need a listening ear just as much as they need dental care. A lot of these kiddos are carrying grown-up-sized burdens on their little shoulders, and we want to be here to lighten that load however we can. Some days that means ending the pain of a sick tooth. Some days it means holding their hands and letting them cry about the hard things in life.
3. Last week, three moms helped a little girl through her dental appointment. She came in with a toothache. The treatment needed to be done, and she was afraid. Her foster mom, the one who brought her in, was wonderful and kind and caring. She realized that the girl would need a little extra support to make it through her visit, so she called the girl’s previous foster mom. This second woman dropped everything she was doing and made it to our office in minutes, just to hold the girl’s hand.
The treatment went well. As we finished up, the first foster mom looked at me and said, “It takes a village. It just takes a village.”
I’m a mom, too. I have daughters of my own. I’m thankful that I had the opportunity to be one of the three moms in that room; thankful to be a small part of their village.
To see if your child qualifies for the dental or vision programs at LevelUp Kids, you can visit our website and make an appointment. In addition, if you’re interested in donating, volunteering, or partnering with LevelUp Kids, you can contact us or visit our donations page.
Thank you again to all who support us!