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

Executive Director The CARE Group, Inc.