2025-2026 State Service Project
Care to Learn partners with school districts to provide emergent health, hunger, and hygiene resources to students so they can worry less, play more, and succeed in school. To date, Care to Learn has met over 4.2 million health, hunger, and hygiene needs of Missouri students, currently serving over 120,000 students in 45+ school districts!
Each year, almost a million kids go to school in the state of Missouri. While most families are able to stock up on essential health, hunger, and hygiene items, some will have a much harder time making ends meet. When basic needs go unmet, student can’t focus on learning. That’s why Care to Learn focuses on three pillars:
- Hygiene. Under-resourced students are four times more likely to miss school. Students who have their clothing and hygiene needs covered feel included, recharged, and ready to take on the classroom.
- Health. Of the more than 900,000 students who attend Missouri public schools, one in five live below the Missouri poverty line. These students often have unmet medical, dental, and mental health concerns that make learning more challenging.
- Hunger. One in six kids is hungry each day and more than 200,000 children in Missouri live with food insecurity. Kids need healthy meals so they can stay energized, alert, and ready to conquer their day.
Care to Learn empowers school staff and faculty to respond immediately, meeting students’ needs anonymously. They are taught how to identify students who need help and how to effectively take action, which helps keep administrative costs low. Care to Learn partners with schools around Missouri to meet these needs using the following model:
- Identify students with unmet needs and supplement current services. Students in need aren’t always easy to spot. Care to Learn works with partner schools to empower everyone to know what to look for and what steps to take. Anyone in a school district can have the power to meet a child’s need, and we’re here to help.
- Develop a sustainable fundraising strategy by creating a flexible fund. One a need is identified, Care to Learn works with chapters to build community awareness and provide resources and support. With support from the organization, individual chapters are empowered to grow and sustain support from the ground up in their own communities.
- Respond immediately while protecting student confidentiality. Care to Learn chapters are designed to meet student needs on the spot. That means no extra approval needed, and no red tape or special treatments. Care to Learn strives to help students as quickly as possible – above or below the Missouri poverty line – and preserve their dignity, too.
How can you get involved?
Missouri FCCLA has plans for a successful service project by provided support to Care to Learn through monetary fundraising as well as volunteer hours towards their cause from the SEC. FCCLA chapters and regions are encouraged to collect financial and in-kind donations that can be donated to local Care to Learn chapters or to their head location in Springfield, MO.
Service Ideas
– Fundraise for monetary donations and then donate the proceeds to your most local Care to Learn chapter.
– Collect health or hygiene items to donate to your most local chapter, such as new toothbrushes, canned food, or new clothing.
– Bring attention to these chapters and Care to Learn in your area – host an informational or educational event, post on social media, and more!
Service Awards
Innovative Service Award
The Innovative Service Award was made to honor Missouri FCCLA chapters who have created and carried out service projects that are both original and highly impactful—whether large or small in scale. This project showcases a fresh approach or unique solution to a real community need.
Champion of Change (Regional Recognition)
In support of Missouri FCCLA’s service project, Care to Learn, we are encouraging regions to gather support around the children within our communities. The Champion of Change award recognizes the region with the most in-kind donations to this years’ service partner, Care to Learn. Donations must fall within Care to Learn’s three pillars: Health, Hygiene, and Hunger. Donations may either be dropped off at the Care to Learn headquarters or you may request a donation box here to mail in donations!
Using the donation confirmation form, your region can be recognized for your efforts towards this amazing cause.
Mission in Motion (Chapter Recognition)
In support of Missouri FCCLA’s service project, Care to Learn, we are encouraging chapters to gather support around the children within our communities. The Mission in Motion award recognizes the chapter with the most in-kind donations to this years’ service partner, Care to Learn. Donations must fall within Care to Learn’s three pillars: Health, Hygiene, and Hunger. Donations may either be dropped off at the Care to Learn headquarters or you may request a donation box here to mail in donations!
Using the donation confirmation form, your region can be recognized for your efforts towards this amazing cause.
