JENKS, Okla. - A local doctor is using his passion to help children both overseas and here in Green Country.
Dr. Tom Vanderpool of Jenks Vision Center started the Vision for Children Charitable Foundation after giving children in the Bahamas free eye exams and glasses about 10 years ago when he was on vacation with his wife.
Now, his fundraising has reached a place where he can still provide 60-80 pairs of glasses a year to children in the Bahamas, and help the Green Country community too.
He said he knew he had to bring the program home after he saw its effect on children's lives.
“The smiles on the kids face when you take somebody who couldn’t see to count your fingers and now they can see 20/20, they can do their schoolwork. When the teacher tells you in the Bahamas that they thought the kid was learning challenged, and in fact they just couldn’t see well enough to do their schoolwork," Vanderpool said.
He's reached out to both local schools and churches to find children who don't qualify for Sooner Care, but struggle to make ends meet. He hopes to provide them eye care and glasses free of cost to their families.
The fundraiser is Thursday, September 15 from 6-9 p.m. at the Spain Ranch in Jenks: 732 E. 116th St., Jenks, OK.
There will be an auction, food crawl and wine tasting.
Find information on tickets here.
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