Care to Learn

In December 2025, we had spent $2.1 million meeting health, hunger and hygiene needs for students in Missouri.

What do you think our TOTAL NUMBER for the school year is? 🤔 COMMENT BELOW!

"I think for me, it's the hugs."

As the school year winded down in Ste. Genevieve R-II School District, District School Social Worker Stephanie Gegg participated in the end-of-year celebrations for seniors: singing the school song, Teacher Congratulations Tunnel and graduation. And along the way, Stephanie got so many hugs from students she's helped over the years.

Because she hasn't just been meeting needs, she'd been building relationships with students to help them truly succeed at school.

"Yes, I do it because I want every student to be happy, comfortable and cared for so they can focus while at school, but I also do it for the hugs and the ability to build special connections with the students I work with," she said. "Becoming a Care to Learn chapter has helped me to be able to build so many more relationships and help so many more students. And for that I am truly thankful."

Because showing you care isn't just meeting a need, it's kindness made real with dignity and intention in every action.

And the hugs from happy kids? The hugs are the best.

10 Things We Love About Jhasmine 💚

In honor of our COO's 10 Year Anniversary, we had to share what we love most about her:

1️⃣ She’s our rock.
2️⃣ She’s incredible with data.
3️⃣ She never misses the details.
4️⃣ She’s a fierce advocate for our mission.
5️⃣ She’s done it all (seriously, she’s held nearly every role!)
6️⃣ She leads with excellence.
7️⃣ She truly loves Care to Learn.
8️⃣ She shows up with heart every single day.
9️⃣ She makes our team stronger.
🔟 She makes a difference in the lives of students and schools every day.

What did we miss? COMMENT BELOW 👇

Jhasmine, we’re so grateful for all you do and the passion you bring to Care to Learn. Happy 10 Years!

✨10 YEARS✨ Count ‘em!

Our Chief Operating Officer, Jhasmine, is ringing in her 10-YEAR anniversary with Care to Learn, and we’re so proud of her.

That’s a big milestone, and it’s not the only number we have to share. In true Jhasmine fashion, she calculated that this also equates to:

✨ 3,000 days employed
✨22,000 pages of notes
✨With 2.2 million words and 600,000 mentions of Care to Learn
✨ Going from 24 Chapters to almost 60!

And that doesn’t even begin to count the millions of students who received help because of her efforts.

Jhasmine, your tenacity, passion, advocacy, and perseverance have had a tremendous impact on Care to Learn. Our organization simply wouldn’t exist without you or your hard work and heart.

We couldn’t be more grateful for you!

Man, it’s been a big year.

The 2025-2026 school year has officially wrapped, and we’re feeling really grateful.

Here are some of our favorite moments from (what we think is) our BIGGEST year yet.

And stay tuned -- we're still meeting needs and crunching numbers. Which means the final impact number for this school year? It's also going to be BIG.

What was YOUR favorite moment from this school year? COMMENT BELOW!

Caring conversations help kids thrive 💚

We love our Liaisons (i.e., the on-site school staff who serve as the Care to Learn leads in their districts).

Each spring, we get a chance to connect with each of them on the road at our annual Chapter Chats. These casual, collaborative conversations not only help us learn how to best serve their school districts, but they also help our Liaisons share ideas and celebrate wins, meeting students' needs in new and important ways.

Thank you to every Chapter for their heart for serving students. We're so thankful for you and all your hard work this school year!

Signed, sealed and MAILED. 🫡

YOU tagged them, and WE sent them! 💌

Thank you to the amazing school counselors and social workers for a great school year.

And for every school staff employee: Finish strong! We are cheering you on. 💚

A cap and gown mean so much more than clothes.

This is a Graduation Story. 💚🎓

𝗔 𝗰𝗮𝗽, 𝗮 𝗴𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗼 𝗺𝘂𝗰𝗵 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲. 💚

A few years ago, Becky Haynes was helping a student find what he needed for graduation.

Becky is a long-time employee with Care to Learn - Fordland: she's a SPED teacher, coach, mentor, and Care to Learn Liaison. But for one senior, Becky was also something more: an encourager.

Early in the year, she became aware that one of her high school students was living in a very complex home environment. After looking deeper, she soon found out that Lucas* and his family had gone without water for an extended period of time.

Her support was immediate: With a few hygiene items on hand and discreetly provided, Lucas was able to shower at school. She also provided fresh shoes, clean clothes, weekend food bags, and more.

For Lucas, this support meant the world. He had hygiene resources and new clothes to boost his self-esteem. But then graduation came, and with it, the unexpected expense: A cap, gown, and dress clothes for commencement – things he couldn't afford.

With the help of Care to Learn, Becky was able to provide Lucas with a cap and gown, nice clothes to wear at the commencement ceremony, and a brand new outfit for Project Graduation.
Lucas proudly walked across the stage, just like his peers.

Becky's last act of kindness lingered, and even after graduating, Lucas continued to share his gratitude for her encouragement and support.

“It’s been a few years, but I still receive messages saying he is appreciative of all that we were able to do for him during high school,” said Becky. “He's a great young man, still searching for his way without a lot of resources.”

Becky hasn't stopped being the ultimate encourager. She even served as a job reference for Lucas this spring, encouraging him to keep going, trying, and learning.

“Not all of our kids have the support system to help them launch into the next stage of life,” she says. “One of my favorite things about Fordland is that we are all like a family. We are raising these kids together, and we want them to succeed. No matter what.”

Thank you, Becky, for being a Helping Hand and for rooting for every student to succeed as they grow, learn, and take on the next Chapter. You inspire us more than you know!

*Name changed to protect the identity of the student served.