For thousands of kids in the Ozarks, education is an afterthought to survival. Skip two meals. Walk to school without a coat. And now, solve for x. It’s hard enough remembering the preamble on a full stomach. When hunger and hygiene rob a child of dignity, learning isn’t a priority.

Different mascots, same pride.

The frontline of the Care to Learn program is the schools. Faculty, bus drivers, administrators, nurses, counselors and others are able to end suffering quickly by identifying students in need of help. Having a Care to Learn chapter in their school means many hunger, health, and hygiene issues can be addressed immediately and discreetly. Currently, there are five Care to Learn chapters in the Ozarks, with more than 16,500 students helped since 2008. To learn about upcoming events, become a Care to Learn fan on Facebook.