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Service Clubs Make A Difference In Quake Zone
mexico rotary
Normal 0 0 1 32 188 oakdale leader 1 1 230 11.1287 0 0 0 Dr. Ted Mihok, DPM, examines a Hispanic patient during a recent trip to Delta, Mexico. The trip was attended by rotary members from varying communities including, Oakdale Sunrise Rotary, Twain Harte Rotary and Groveland Rotary. - photo by COURTESY OF JOHN C. BRUNK

Delta BC Mexico: The largest earthquake in the California Region since the 8+ in 1906 that hit San Francisco did not stop 22 U.S. citizens from going six miles from the epicenter to do their service work through area clubs in April this year. Forty-two miles south of the border the town of Delta had no water and very little electricity, which made doing the medical clinics and work at the local elementary school a challenge. In spite of this, a total of over $92,000 worth of clinics, refurbishing and delivery of materials took place in two days.

With the help from brother club “Calafia Rotary of Mexicali” the following clinics were performed at the local fire station and annex: Vision, with 296 eye exams and dispensing of 190 pair of classes with Dr’s. Tom Mihok and Neil Nebeker; 80 foot exams with shoe corrections by Dr. Ted Mihok; 150 fluoride treatments and three extractions by Dr’s. Jose Bustos and Rosey Luque; 85 rabies vaccines by Dr’s. Mel Tanner and Roger Sanchez. There were 58 cases of water bought in California and delivered to the town’s people. Schoolyard equipment was installed at the elementary school and an old bus that was parked on the school premises was transformed into a lunch/gathering place by a complete new paint job in off white color and the interior seats relocated to a face to face atmosphere. Some 600 elementary textbooks and 550 pairs of new shoes made it across the border along with medical equipment and supplies for the hospital in Mexicali. That 10-story building, however, will most likely be demolished due to the damage it received by the 7.2 magnitude earthquake.

Service clubs involved in this effort were Twain Harte, Oakdale Sunrise, and Groveland Rotary clubs and the Oakdale and Alameda Breakfast Lions Clubs.

Also participating and thanked for their efforts are Jim Goodrich, Randy Burke, Leslie Nebeker, Vic and Janie Marchini, Sharon Hunt, Karen Mihok, Ken Cosner, Irene Hollister, Lisa Tribby, Paula Thompson, Richard and Harry Fries, Erwin and Sonja Schali, Ray Leverett and Yvonne Desales.

Special thanks were offered to Dr. Tom Mihok, who has made the trip 25 years, improving vision for the needy.

If you would like to participate in next year’s quest, contact Brunk at 209-962-6276.