Care to Learn notches service record

Springfield nonprofit Care to Learn has hit a service milestone.

Care to Learn on Sept. 14 announced at its School Soiree fundraiser that the nonprofit now has met more than 3 million health, hunger and hygiene requests for children in schools. The organization’s 2 million figure was reached in April 2022.

“We want to make meeting needs as simple as possible,” said Krystal Simon, Care to Learn CEO, in a news release. “We know that providing small things like a brand-new pair of shoes, eyeglasses and a healthy meal makes a big impact. We’re so grateful to the communities, donors and school districts we work with who continue to help us bridge these gaps for students."

During fiscal 2023, Care to Learn spent a record $2.1 million to aid students, according to past reporting. Fundraising efforts also reached an all-time high for the organization at $3.4 million, doubling the previous fiscal year’s total of $1.7 million.

The nonprofit has an operational budget of roughly $1.7 million.