Oklahoma Caring Van Marks 25 Years Of Providing Healthcare Across The State

For 25 years, the Oklahoma Caring Van Program has helped thousands of people across the state.

They've traveled more than a million miles to provide healthcare for children and their families.

It's an unusual way to celebrate a 25th anniversary.

"I am getting my flu shot today. I am a little nervous. I don't get it enough, so I am grateful to be able to get it while they are here today," said Taylor Hood.

She works at the East Central Middle School as a counselor.

She appreciates that the Oklahoma Caring Van Is available during school hours.

"I have never been a part of something like this before. I think it's really cool for them to come to the school so it’s accessible for all the students and the teachers as well," Hood said. "It can be hard just for staff to make the time to go do it, so I love that they are able to come here and help us."

Brooke Townsend serves as the Executive Director of the Oklahoma Caring Foundation.

It started in 1999 with just one van and now has expanded to nine, including a new one to mark 25 years. She says 236,000 children have been immunized since its beginning.

"We were able to make an impact but knowing now that we are serving the largest school districts in the state, we are serving rural communities, we are serving tribal communities as well, it just lets me know that our services are needed and providing access to our immunizations and other preventable health services is something that will continue to be a need across our state," said Townsend.

She says it's important for support like this to continue to be offered, so her students can focus on what’s happening in the classrooms instead of missing class. 

"It feels like we have the support that we need to be able to just work as a school to have the students coming here every day," Hood said.

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