In an effort to make sure that story is not repeated, Hicks hopes creating a medical facility in Meteo will go to improve the overall health of the community. But, improving the health of the community will have to come one step — or one bite — at a time.

One of those first steps will come in May when a group of local dentists will travel to the region for a week to offer dental care to the residents.

“We have Dr. Brett Wood and Dr. Donnie Russell scheduled to go and look at the state of dental care there,” Hicks said. “We’ve instituted lessons, simple lessons, like brushing your teeth and basic dental care.”

In addition to the additional medical projects, Hicks said the organization’s board recently approved the funding of additional scholarships for children to attend secondary education schools and colleges.

The organization also helped fund the hiring of an additional teacher in a school, where teachers were so outnumbered, Hicks said, “they couldn’t focus on the lessons.”

Also in the works are more dams designed to catch and hold rainwater for use for much of the year.

“These dams, which we can build for $3,000 to $4,000, will capture the torrential rains they receive a few days in the year, and they can use that water to take care of their livestock and themselves,” Hicks said. “There, water means life.”

Hicks said the water storage also would help children in school longer as they don’t have to travel 15 or more miles to get water.

According to Hicks, a dam can hold enough water to sustain a community for seven to eight months.

Much of the funding for the organization comes from fundraisers — such as the group’s annual 5K run each October — and funding from local churches.

For more information, visit their website at integrityworldwide.com.