The CARE Group, Inc. 2021/2022 Impact Report

What Sets Us Apart:

We are the ONLY nonprofit in Moore County that offers ONE-ON-ONE Youth Mentoring and ONE-ON-ONE Adult Tutoring. This means that our students are matched with a caring and trained volunteer instead of a group, allowing trust and personal connections.

We are a referral program for the Juvenile Justice System and Moore County Schools for juveniles who are suspended, expelled, or currently in the court system.

We are the only certified Motheread/Fatheread® program in Moore County, hosting 10-week classes in our local churches, schools, and businesses.

A Message from Our Executive Director

2020 was an incredibly challenging year for us. The Pandemic hit and turned our lives and the world upside down. The kids we serve were stranded at home with the very individuals that caused their trauma. They did not have the support of their teachers and their mentors, who were not allowed in the schools. We lost a great number of adult literacy tutors because of the need to protect their health. Then, in 2021, we merged our two nonprofits, still reeling from the Pandemic and went to work. With a skeleton staff, fewer volunteers, and greater need, we fought hard to continue to give our adults and kids what they needed, despite limited resources.

When you heard of our need, you responded with your support and compassion. We have not only managed to stay in business and support our county with adult literacy tutoring, we have continued to offer our citizenship preparation, and even added digital literacy classes, so that our adult students can learn the computer skills they need to secure better employment for their families. We have been recruiting and training more mentors than we have in years, thanks to the diligent work of our mentor coordinators. More mentors means that more kids will have a one-on-one mentor and not stay on a waiting list. It means more hope for these kids. More joy, more laughter, more love. It will result in better grades and better behavior for them. That, in turn, means a better future for them. Because you were there for us when we needed you.

Every gift you give goes to one of our programs that will help adults lift themselves out of poverty because they learned to read, write, and speak English, and learned how to do a spreadsheet.

Kids will have brighter futures because a well -trained positive, caring adult mentor will be there to support, guide and encourage them. They will set goals and do better in school and in life. They will have music lessons after school, here at the center, and have something nutritious to eat, as well as help with their homework.

Our work is not possible without your generosity, and we are so incredibly grateful. I hope you will enjoy seeing some of the faces of the beautiful children and families that we work with.

This report showcases the lasting impact that we made, together, in the lives of our county’s most vulnerable people when they needed us the most.

All of us here at The CARE Group want you to know how grateful we are for your support as we continue to fight for better futures for children and adults.

Sincerely,

Joyce Clevenger

Joyce Clevenger Executive Director The CARE Group, Inc.

The CARE Group Programs

Serving All Ages at All Stages

ONE-ON-ONE MENTORING & TUTORING

Our mentoring coordinators connect a positive, caring adult to a student referred to us from schools and other agencies. Our mentors & tutors work with young people between the ages of 6 and 17, serving both in school and the community for at least one year for a minimum of 8 hours per month.

STRUCTURED DAY PROGRAM

Our Structured Day Program is geared toward children at risk for truancy, academic failure, behavior problems, and dropping out of school This includes children who are suspended, expelled, have a history of truancy, or are returning from a juvenile justice setting who are referred to us by schools or the courts Thi program has a curriculum that includes schoolwork along with group sessions

ONE-ON-ONE ADULT TUTORING

ONE-ON-ONE ADULT TUTORING

Our Adult Literacy programs teach basic life and literacy skills to adults who wish to learn English as a Second Language and Adult Basic Education, depending on the student's individual needs and goals. Students are matched with a trained volunteer tutor and meet once a week.

CITIZENSHIP PREPARATION

Our Citizenship Program serves students wanting to gain the knowledge needed for the Naturalization Exam and Interview while working on their English reading and writing skills.

DIGITAL LITERACY CLASSES

Our Digital Literacy Classes are open to adults over 18, including ELLs, who want to learn or sharpen their computer skills. From basic keyboard, email, and internet skills to spreadsheets and multimedia presentations, our classes have something for everyone.

MOTHEREAD/FATHEREAD®

Our Motheread/Fatheread® program educates parents on the importance and vital impact of reading to their children every day before birth and throughout early childhood Through this 10-week program, we help parents connect to children’s literature by using it as a framework to explore, discuss, and reflect on real-life, everyday experiences

Upcoming Events

January 1st-31st

January 19th

7pm-9pm

Fair Barn

March 2nd June

July

August

August 19th

November 1st-31st

National Mentoring Month

This National Mentoring Month, reflect on the ways you are helping support the next generation of leaders and change-makers. By connecting young people with caring adults, mentoring amplifies positive youth development - consider becoming a mentor today!

Blingo Bingo Fundraiser

Break out your Bedazzler and join us for a fun evening of cheesy bling and bingo! We will be crowning a Queen and King of Bling, giving away prizes from local businesses, enjoying drinks and desserts, striking a pose at the Bling Booth, and having a great time raising money for the C.A.R.E. Group programs.

Read Across America Day

The day occurs each year on the birthday of beloved children’s book author Dr. Seuss. On National Read Across America Day, students, teachers, parents, and community members come together to read books and celebrate the joy of reading — join us!

Summer Reading Stations

Our annual Growing Moore Readers Summer Reading Stations will pass free books, snacks, and STEM projects to help combat the summer reading slide! Great for children of all ages. Adopt a reading station and choose a hosting site by emailing nancy@mcliteracy.org.

Stuff the Bus

Our 17th Annual Stuff the Bus event will take place outside of Staples in Aberdeen to help support our students as they return to school with much-needed school supplies. Grab some lunch from one of our supporting food trucks and snap a photo of you stuffing the bus!

National Family Literacy Month

It’s time to get the whole family together to enjoy some reading — because when you read to your children, you instill in them fundamental skills for success in their later years in school and life.

November 1st-30th

4th Annual Gingerbread House Competition

Compete against others in the categories of Kids, Adults, Family, and Business Teams for a trophy, prize, and bragging rights as you help raise money for our CARE Group programs!

Welcome to Our New Space!

In January 2021, with the merger complete, we quickly saw the need for more space to house our programming and expand our training capacity. When a new unit became available in our current location, we jumped on it and began to plan. We needed more office space and an area for large groups for training new mentors, tutors, and staff functions. We also needed a space for our kids to work on their schoolwork with their mentor, a kitchen to learn to cook nutritious food, as well as a space for our music lessons. After planning the place, our director went to work to find the funds to realize our dream space. When funding came together, we proudly invited others to an Open House to see what we had created. Our kitchen is named after the Henry Nias Foundation, who enabled us to install a large kitchen space where the kids love to learn how to cook, and our adults are able to use it for their needs. This space has an inviting sitting area for our kids to sit for group discussions and tables and chairs for working and/or playing a board game with their mentor. We know this space will offer a place for hard work, learning, and enrichment for our families and staff for many years to come. We invite you to come by and see it for yourself sometime!

OnepersonCARINGaboutanotherrepresents life'sgreatestvalues. -JimRohn

Combating the Summer Reading Slide!

Our summer reading stations were a hit again this year, with stations all around Moore County. Children of all ages came each day to get a free book, snack, and Steam Project book to keep them active and engaged in reading and learning over the Summer months!

Stuffing the Bus with Our Community

Our Moore County community businesses had a fantastic outreach to help us make our 16th annual Stuff the Bus event a success. Thanks to First Health Fitness Center, Southern Pines Growler Company, Olmstead Village Dental, Staples, Miss Moore County/Sandhills, Dogslingers, and Ice Breakers Snoballs for helping us get the school supplies that our students needed for the year.

Spreading the Holiday Cheer

This was our second year participating in the Southern Pines Christmas Parade, and our elves worked extra hard to ensure that we had a fun float to share with our community and promote our annual Gingerbread House Competition!

3rd Annual Gingerbread House Competition

Fifteen teams competed this year to win the top prize in their category for our 3rd annual Gingerbread House Competition! Our teams amaze us year after year with their creativity and dedication to helping fundraiser for the CARE Group programs. We can't wait to see what they come up with next year!

Mentoring & Tutoring Programs

I work with The CARE Group because each day, I get the privilege of spending time and speaking with children and adults in our community. Being able to make a difference and surrounding myself with people who truly care about the future of others is what makes going to work every day rewarding

I am new to the CARE Group, but it only took a couple of weeks to discover my why. Because there are people who have needs, children who are struggling, and adults who do not know how to help To love the kids and help educate the adults, and to change the course of young lives is why I’m here

What our kids say about their mentors:

A good listener / is supportive of me / does not judge me / someone who helps me / guides me / teaches me right from wrong / comfortable with me / open with me / is very understanding / helps me with schoolwork / always there for me / takes me places / is nice / makes me feel better about myself / someone I can trust / I can tell them things / is kind / dependable /meaningful conversations / is fun

"I recently retired and wanted to serve others in our community. The Moore Buddies Mentoring Program was looking for men to mentor boys in our public schools so I signed up and started in February 2022.

It has been a joy to help Nhalyn and Vi'Zir improve their reading and teach them Pickle Ball. I have also been inspired by the teachers and administrators at Aberdeen Elementary and Southern Pines Middle School "

- Mark Hamilton, Mentor

"I've taken Imani to watch Willet play high school tennis, play at the park, play card games, walk around town, and last weekend her first pumpkin carving and carving party! She also had her first enchilada (which she didn't like) She is open to new experiences and I love that about her. She is is a good kid!" - Jessie

Schillaci, Mentor

"I am grateful for the mentorship that I've been given over the past years. Having the opportunity to learn from my mentor, Ms Cynthia, and the staff has made a substantial change in my life because I wanted to an entrepreneur, but I think now I want to be a mentor I want to help kids out I don't want them to do the things I did as a kid, you know? And when we first began working together, I never imagined I would be able to make as much progress as I have "

Nikara, Mentee

Katie Wilson Mentoring Coordinator

Amanda McKay Mentoring Coordinator

Over 4 Years of Mentoring and Counting

& Isaiah

"I was introduced to Moore Buddies by Joyce, a longtime friend. With our kids now married adults and our grandkids (only one at the time) not close enough for frequent interaction, I realized that just maybe I was a good candidate to become a mentor My wife, Patricia, was in agreement and became a key player in the effort

From a short list of possibilities, Joyce and I selected a twelve-year-old boy, and the work and fun began.

I didn't have much of a clue about what we would be doing, so I started trying to match his needs with what I had to offer I soon realized that I couldn't meet every need, but there were many opportunities to help him Living with his mother and younger sister, he desperately needed interaction with an adult male. He also greatly needed a lot of encouragement. Communication was a bit of a problem since I am not a great conversationalist and he would barely speak at all, but we have worked through that at least to some degree

He needed the opportunity to do stuff away from the apartment, so I included him in various projects around my house and at my shop. I had him do yard work and help with other projects for which I paid him and helped him save for times when he needed a little extra money We both like sports, so we attended several school sporting events as well as several minor league baseball games Together we repaired and painted his bedroom furniture and got a new (used) bed for him

One of the greatest influences in our children's teenage years was their involvement in the youth group at our church, so with the approval of his mother, I got our mentee involved in that same group Some of his school friends were already there, and he has made friends with many more He attends almost every week, sometimes more than once He has also been with this group on various day trips, weekend excursions, and even week-long retreats and mission trips.

One more unique thing Patricia and I have done is to include him in several family events including holiday gatherings and week-long family vacations also including our grandson In many ways, we have treated him as a grandson We also have ministered to his mother in many ways such as helping her get a vehicle through a program called Wheels-to-Work, helping her get a good used washer and dryer, helping her get assistance with overdue bills, and offering her a lot of encouragement.

It has been four and a half years now, and the things we do together and the way we approach things have evolved as he gets older and his needs, interests, and activities have changed, but I will just say that I believe this young fellow has come a long way and the experience has been good for Patricia and I as well."

- Bobby Teague, Mentor

Bobby

Structured Day Program

"Some are called students, kids, delinquents, children, and even juveniles. I call them our future. When it comes to the work I do at The Care Group, I absolutely love it Working with the at-risk population makes it even more special to my heart Giving these babies a chance at a brighter future with support and guidance is the happiest part of my job Our Structured Day Program is driven by employees who teach, mentor, care and provide structure for each student we come in contact with. Making a difference and allowing our kids to see that no matter what walk of life they may come from, they are all destined for greatness We provide them the opportunities to be exposed to new things and give them a chance to discover hidden hobbies and talents It's the smiles on their faces when participating in group activities and the attentiveness in their eyes when you are speaking positive affirmations on their lives. These are just a few reasons why I love what I do and who I do it for"

I do what I do at Moore Buddies because I was once a troubled and lost kid I never really had anyone to talk to about life or to show me how to become a successful young man. I was involved in the juvenile court system for many, many years. If only I had someone in my corner to redirect my thinking, maybe my actions would have been different Working with adolescents brings me back to where I was, so hopefully, I can show someone something different than the way they are headed If I can save someone from juvenile detention, Adolescent Treatment centers, probation, training schools, and prison, then my job has been fulfilled. I know I can't save everyone, but if I can get that light to turn on in just one, then I have made a difference. That's what GOD wants me to do I have a passion to give back what I have so freely been given

While having a snack after school, right before working on homework and group activities, sisters Lanajah (9th grade) and Latalyah (7th grade) share why they enjoy participating in the Structured Day Program. “I really like the people here They are so nice and giving They really show us that they care and make us feel special. They make us feel like we are at home, they feed us and we even get to meet new friends here” says Lanajah “We go places, they feed us and help us with our schoolwork. Ms. Cynthia acts like she is our mama but we love her so much I love the nice things here that we do like cooking classes and art classes” says Latalyah.

Students Anthony and Zara are asked why they enjoy group sessions with the Structured Day Program during a group session. They both laughed and replied, "you make us feel heard, you listen to us, and you encourage us to do better in school " "This is the only time we actually talk to each other in school. We see one another, but we don't talk. We are so different when we are in our group session and talking we realize we really aren't that different," Anthony says. "Yeah, like I really would've never thought we had so much in common, and I definitely never thought to just speak or talk to Anthony until after we started this group together Now we talk and speak in the hallways during school," says Zara.

During a back-to-school event at The Care Group, Fedrick says, “I really enjoyed listening to him It felt like he was someone who I can relate to, someone who I can look up to. I am so happy that I came to this event” Fedrick then goes on to say, "I enjoy this program It's like school but not like school, if that makes any sense. The people here really make you feel cared about, and they make you feel like you can do anything in life I love the fact that they gave me so many school supplies, and they fed us too Even after I am off probation, I would love to stay in this program if that’s ok.”

Cynthia McLean Structured Day Program Director

Chris O'Dell Structured Day Program Leader

Motheread/Fatheread® Program

I came to the CARE Group almost a year ago wanting to make an impact in the community. As the Adult & Family Literacy Program Coordinator, I get to witness EMPOWERMENT The adults who are paired with a compassionate tutor and the parents who attend Motheread/Fatheread sessions are empowered with the gift of literacy Empowerment creates opportunity and opportunity sparks growth and hope. Jane Goodall's quote sums up why I am happy to be a part of the CARE Group: "What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make "

Literacy, books, and writing have always been an integral part of my life I love that as a facilitator with our Motheread/Fatheread® Program I am able to share some wonderful children's books with parents while hopefully inspiring them to read daily to their young children I am also passionate about helping our eligible adult students achieve the goal of becoming a Naturalized US Citizen!

I really enjoy working at the CARE Group because my coworkers are helpful, kind, and motivating The work environment is great It is satisfying to help people and give them the opportunity to achieve goals I really enjoy hearing students' stories They overcome insecurities and open their eyes to new goals. They trust us and come to ask questions and seek help to learn and improve themselves.

A young boy came with is mom to a Motheread class in the Brookside community His mom had won a pumpkin at the class and was also given some books to start a library at home. The little boy was so excited he began rolling the pumpkin home, just a few doors down Later, the mom sent Nancy a photo of him fast asleep on the couch with his books, popcorn, and his head resting on the pumpkin

At least one family, that we know of, has taken advantage of all that the CARE Group can offer for Family Literacy Victoria was a student in Motheread, she brought her boys daily to our Summer Reading Stations, and now she is enrolled as an ESL student!

A young mother, who will graduate from Pinecrest and is expecting her baby daughter in January, wrote this in our final class as we always ask the moms to share about their experience in Motheread and make any suggestions if they'd like. "Before Motheread I wouldn't even read a book, but after I came to these classes I even read books to my little bump because I know she can hear me reading to her on how she moves a lot too I feel like she gets really excited and loves it when I read to her."

Nancy Bryant Family Literacy Program Coordinator

Patty Lopez Outreach & Recruitment Officer

Kathy McGougan Motheread Program Specialist

Adult Literacy Program

I have never been comfortable with people falling through the cracks. I have a strong belief in a people-helping-people model of community because we are stronger together when everyone has the opportunity to thrive You can't pull yourself up by your bootstraps if you were given broken ones or none at all to begin with We need to heal the imbalances that exist I feel our tutoring and mentoring work is one way to make sure the vulnerable don't fall through the cracks; that they have the opportunity to make their lives better through education and relationships with our dedicated instructors and mentors

I officially began the position on January 1, 2022, as the Adults Literacy Program Coordinator I can unequivocally say I love coming to work each day I enjoy the everyday interaction with the tutors and the students I am a firm believer that developing positive relationships with people is key to success in creating an inviting environment. I work with a dynamic staff who are all here with a purpose; caring We find time to work hard, to smile, to work cooperatively and collaboratively and to laugh together The various programs of the CARE group encompass many needs of the community and I feel it a privilege to be part this group

Maureen Avendutti Adult

Program Leader

As a person, I'm passionate about reading and the wonderful worlds that open up to us within the pages of a great book! As an educator, I have experienced families that are very supportive of their children's learning but struggle with their own basic communication to and from the school In our Adult Literacy Program at the Seven Lakes satellite site, we offer opportunities for reading skills to be developed and enhanced, along with the confidence to hold conversation in English, even if it is not the student's native language. These skills allow our adult learners to navigate more successfully throughout their community and participate in many ways that enrich their daily lives For me, it is a privilege to be a part of that experience!

We have our Adult Literacy students write a quarterly reflection piece, a themed personal narrative showcasing their writing skills and how much they have improved. This reflection piece is from our ESL student, Francisca. Judy Eckhart has been her tutor since 2017. Francisca cried as she reread her reflection, saying, "I am a business woman now!"

Judith Douglas Adult Literacy Program Coordinator

Heather Lussier Literacy Programs Director

Literacy

Jean Franke, ESL Tutor Since 2020

"My father immigrated to the United States when he was almost thirty years old

When I was young, he told me that the most difficult aspect of immigrating was learning English so he could communicate with other people. Over twenty years later, while living in Chicago, my daughters attended a Chicago Public High School with students whose families had come to the US from many different countries A number of those parents spoke little to no English and struggled to communicate

with teachers, administrators, and other parents Watching those parents' efforts reminded me of my father's comment, and I realized that I might be able to help others learn English

I began teaching English to adults in Chicago and discovered that it was more fulfilling than any job or other volunteer work that I had ever done. When I moved to Moore County, I was delighted to find that I could continue this type of work

My current students have expressed a desire to master English so they can improve their employment prospects, facilitate their communication in day-to-day interactions and make new friends I believe that I can help them achieve these goals. I take great pride in all of the advances they have made so far and believe that I can continue to contribute to their success.

I am also personally enjoying many benefits from this program My students' desire to learn pushes me to think of active ways to present new material They ask interesting questions that make me think more deeply about issues that I would otherwise ignore We share many laughs and have developed friendships

This program provides an essential service to English language learners in Moore County. The ability to communicate with each other promotes individual economic opportunities and productivity and also enhances community relations It is a critical component for success for all of us "

Julie Mitchell, ESL Tutor Since 2021

"I chose tutoring as a volunteer activity because I wanted something that would keep me engaged weekly, challenge me intellectually, and instill a feeling of purpose and accomplishment. I began with a young adult in Maryland seeking her GED. Once I moved to Moore County, I was asked to tutor an ESL student, which I am enjoying It is gratifying to see my student engaged and eager to learn After a year with him, I am seeing progress and look forward to enriching his tutoring experiences A few months ago I added reading passages from the Readworks website which he thoroughly enjoys I also asked him to stop using Google translate when he answers my text messages, and he appreciates the challenge Getting to know Patty Lopez, a former MCLC student and now on staff at the CARE Group, was most beneficial. I also arranged to have her meet my student, Luis, and impress upon him the value of using English every single day "

Patricia Murray, Citizenship Preparation Student

Patricia Murray is originally from Nassau, Bahamas. She became a student in the CARE Group Citizenship program in 2021

Patricia worked hard for over a year with Program Specialist Kathy McGougan, preparing for the Interview Process and studying for the tests required to become a US citizen Her hard work paid off, and she passed the written and verbal tests and successfully completed the Interview Process for Naturalization in May 2022. Patricia was sworn in as a US citizen on Friday, June 10th in Charlotte, NC, with approximately 80 other new US citizens

Patricia stated that she wanted to become a US citizen in order to have all the rights and privileges that our citizens enjoy. Patricia was able to exercise one of these rights on November 8th when she voted in her very first election!

Joyce Clevenger Executive Director

Admin Team

I believe that life is best when we serve others, and working at the CARE Group allows me the privilege of seeing folks change their lives for the better through our help We offer them the opportunity to learn skills needed to attain better employment and lift themselves out of poverty We help them learn the joy and the skill of reading to their children, which will forever change the trajectory of that child's life and their children's for generations to come. Kids will stay in school and graduate because someone cared for them and helped them learn the skills they needed to do better in school and in life It is a joy and an honor to participate in such work, especially since I get to work alongside such compassionate and talented people who do such wonderful things for our community.

I've always been drawn to helping others whenever I can My empathy drives me to give back and to try to make a difference in the lives of others, which is why I've ended up in the nonprofit world. It's rewarding to watch one of our students reach a goal they've been working so hard towards with the help of volunteers I'm in awe every day of the passion and dedication of my coworkers, who are making a difference

Jackie Cornell Chief Operating Officer

I relocated last year from Pennsylvania and was presented with an offer for part-time employment Little did I know how rewarding this position would be What a pleasure it is to work for an organization that ensures so many opportunities for others and with such a fun, caring, dedicated, and passionate staff

Leslie Elizeus Financial Officer

Board of Directors

David Helms President

Kathy Farren Vice President

Andrew Lyons Treasurer

Sandra

Waterkotte Secretary

Laura Douglass

Tammy Hernandez

Laura

May Birche Meese

Joyce Pilewski

Clare Ruggles

See what you'v mplish this year

Over 3,000 hours of mentoring

Over 60 students served through our Structured Day Program

Over 400 hours of volunteer training

48 active tutor pairs

Over 40 families served in our Motheread classes

More than $4,000 of food donations for our families

Over $12,500 of school supplies donated

3 students sworn in as US Citizens this year

How to Give...

Over 2300 individuals visited Our Summer Reading Stations

We rely on donations the most during this time of year. We hope that you will help us prepare for yet another unpredictable year.

Mail a Check: The CARE Group, Inc PO Box 1996 Southern Pines, NC 28388 Donate Online: Can the QR code to be taken to our donation form or visit wwwthecaregroupincorg/donate

Volunteer!

Do you want to get involved in giving back to the community? We hope you will consider giving one to two hours a week to help our students achieve their educational and life goals. We currently have a waitlist of students who need mentors and tutors.

If you are interested in learning more about becoming a volunteer with our organization, please contact us today! 910-692-5954

We would like to thank all our individual and corporate donors for supporting the CARE Group, Inc. YOU are helping change the futures of so many individuals in our community of all ages and all stages of their lives.