07/26/2026
♥️ Where Carabetta Cares Began
Today, July 26, is the Feast Day of St. Ann, the patron saint of mothers, grandmothers, and families. This day has always held a very special and deeply personal meaning for me.
I was named Anna after St. Ann because my mother had a great devotion to her. Throughout my life, she would always tell me:
“St. Ann will help you.”
Those words have stayed with me through every season of my life.
On July 26, 1991, during an emergency C-section, my husband Joseph and I lost our twin babies. They were due in November, and I had already begun imagining their first Christmas, their birthdays, and all the toys and gifts I would buy for them.
In the months and years that followed, I began buying toys for children in need in memory of our twins. It gave all the love I was carrying somewhere to go.
That simple act of remembrance became a toy drive.
And that toy drive eventually grew into Carabetta Cares.
My mother and father raised me with a strong foundation of faith, family, generosity, hard work, and caring for others. Although they are no longer physically here, their love, sacrifices, and values continue to guide me and the mission of Carabetta Cares.
Today, Carabetta Cares has grown far beyond the original toy drive to support children, women, families, health and wellness initiatives, and members of our community during difficult times.
What began in heartbreak became a mission of love.
Today, I remember our twins, my father, and my mother. I can still hear her saying:
“St. Ann will help you.”
I believe she did.
Our twins’ lives were brief, but their legacy continues through every toy donated, every family helped, every volunteer, every sponsor, and every act of kindness made through Carabetta Cares.
Thank you to everyone who has become part of this journey. May we continue to honor those we love by caring for others.
♥️Anna
