Chinese Buffet and New Glasses

Sometimes the littlest things can make the biggest difference.

Annually, Silver Dollar City Foundation provides 14 school districts with Care For Kids grants – funding the districts use to meet the physical needs of students. These grants empower the districts to help thousands of the area’s most vulnerable students each year.

One such example reminds us how the little things can make huge impacts.

Crane School District Superintendent Dr. Kelli Rogers tells about two brothers from a large family in their district.

The boys both failed their in-school eye exams drastically, however, the family encountered an issue with Medicaid. Without that insurance, the family could not afford to take the boys to see an optometrist.

“The boys could not see the Smart Board in the classroom regardless of where they sat,” Rogers explained. “They were also struggling just to read.”

With the parents’ permission, Elementary School Counselor Leslie Henry took the boys during a school day to see an optometrist where it was confirmed, they both desperately needed glasses.

“The brothers were literally jumping up and down at the ability to pick out glasses,” Rogers said.

The only thing that could make the story better was what happened when the glasses arrived.

“The boys were ecstatic to be able to see clearly,” Henry explained. “The boys felt confidence and ready to learn.”

The oldest boy’s teacher said when he walked into the classroom after getting his glasses, he stood in one spot staring at objects around the room for 20 minutes. Rogers said it was as though he’d never been in the classroom before. Both boys were seeing things they’d never seen before. Even better – the headaches the boys had been experiencing went away and their grades improved.

“Having (Care For Kids) is a true blessing for these boys, their family and the teachers who work with the boys,” said Rogers.