Springfield Business Journal
Care to Learn promotes Melissa Rea to new leadership role
January 14
Caring Starts Here
Capital Campaign: Caring Starts Here
Since 2008, Care to Learn has met 4.6+ million student needs, and counting. Now, it's time for a permanent home.
The Case for Space
Student Needs Continue to Rise
- We've seen a 233% increase in student requests over the past four years.
- We now partner with 50+ Chapters and have met more than 4.6 million students' needs.
- We provide access to resources to more than 122,000 students statewide.
- Over the past 18 years, we've invested $16.7 million into meeting student needs.
We've now reached the limits of our physical capacity.
School districts continue to turn to us for help.
Without the right space, we cannot grow to meet the needs we know exist.
Our New Home
1730 E. Portland, Springfield, MO
Here's the good news: We’ve secured a new home in the heart of Springfield. With this space, we'll be able to:
- Maximize in-kind deliveries and donations. It will help us streamline donations, innovate our logistics model, and say “yes” to major in-kind opportunities.
- Create a home for more Helping Hands. We'll be able to triple the number of volunteer opportunities for support and welcome larger, more frequent groups.
- Make a true regional hub. With an accessible, centralized space, we’ll expand our service footprint, deepen partner engagement, and serve twice as many students across Missouri.
Every child deserves access to critical resources.
We're proud to share that 77% of our building is dedicated directly to mission space.
Building Progress and Overview
Additional Project Specs
- Address: 1730 E. Portland
- 19,740 square feet, 77% of the space will be used for mission and program use
- Architect: Paragon Architecture, LLC
- General Contractor: Snyder Construction Group
- Campaign Project Total: $6.9 million
- Campaign Progress: 70% of our goal!
- Estimated Completion Date: 2027
Want to learn more?
We'd love to share it with you! For inquiries about our Caring Starts Here Campaign or to make a gift, contact our CEO, Krystal Simon.
Capital Campaign Updates
KY3 News
Springfield Public Schools partners with local nonprofit to support families in need
November 11
Make a Campaign Gift
By 2034, we’re committed to meeting 10 million needs in 100+ communities. But it starts here and now—with you. Over the past 18 years, you’ve helped build this mission. Now, we’re inviting you to help shape its future.