Care to Learn - Ste. Genevieve

10/02/2026

💚DONOR SPOTLIGHT💚: Ability Network, Inc.

Today, we want to give a shoutout to Sam and Eric Kertz with Ability Network, Inc! Ability Network, Inc has been supporting Care to Learn Ste. Genevieve for several years. When asked why she choose to give, she shared: “As a business owner my greatest privilege is to be able to give back to my community and to be able to give back to the school I grew up in is an added perk! Knowing that it’s directly impacting students is a huge factor in that decision.”🙌

Want to join Ability Network, Inc. in making an impact? Visit our website at www.caretolearn.org/stegenevieve or contact Ste. Genevieve R-II School District for more information.

09/22/2026

When we started this endeavor in the Ste. Genevieve R-II School District in March 2024, we never dreamed we would be able to help so many students or meet so many needs! If you would like to help support this amazing program and our students, please reach out to Stephanie Gegg at 573-883-4500 ext. 2980 to discuss ways to donate!

09/17/2026

Welcome to a new school year!! Did you know that a donation of just $450 can cover the cost of a Friday Food Bag for one student every week throughout the school year? That's around 35 weeks of Friday Food Bags for just $450!!

This year our school district has made some changes to our Friday Food Bags that go out to families with food insecurities in the elementaries, intending to provide more variety and the addition of one supper meal!

Here is an example of what goes into one Friday Food Bag. A typical bag will include two breakfast items, two lunch items, a juice, a milk, 4 snack items and one supper meal. AND we have increased the number of Friday Food Bags we are hoping to get out to our families this year!

If you are interested in donating to help fund our Friday Food Bag program or our Care to Learn - Ste. Genevieve chapter as a whole, there is a link on our main page or feel free to reach out to Stephanie Gegg, School Social Worker, at Ste. Genevieve R-II School District for more information.

09/08/2026

Ste. Genevieve R-II School District families, are you needing some new SG shirts for the school year or a DRAGONS green and white bracelet to wear on green and white days?!?! You can support our Care to Learn - Ste. Genevieve chapter at the same time if you order through these links!
https://www.sghsdragonprints.org/s/stories/show-your-pride-show-you-care-2

https://caretolearn26.itemorder.com/

Online ordering for Care to Learn Bracelet Fundraiser 2026

08/29/2026

🛍️Care to Learn-Ste Genevieve bracelet fundraising Store is now open!🛍️ (Deadline to order is Sept 7.)

https://caretolearn26.itemorder.com/

Every purchase helps support the health, hunger, and hygiene needs of students in our Ste Genevieve R-II community.

Thank you for helping us care for our students!!

06/26/2026

💚 Helping Students Thrive: Care to Learn & Backpacks for Friday 💚

Ste. Genevieve County R-II is proud to share the incredible impact of two student support programs—Care to Learn and Backpacks for Friday—that continue to meet urgent needs in health, hunger, and hygiene across our district.

This past year, Care to Learn - Ste. Genevieve helped meet ✨ 6,732 individual needs ✨ —from eyeglasses to food bags, clothing, and more—thanks to generous donations and support from our community. This year, we were able to purchase a washer and dryer set to be kept at school. 💚

Through Backpacks for Friday this past year, 56 families received weekly food staples, with help from the Southeast Missouri Food Bank and behind-the-scenes support from our amazing counselors, STARS students, staff, and maintenance team.

🎒 Each backpack provides 36 weeks of food! We’re so grateful to all of our donors who made these programs possible in 2025-26—and to those already helping us serve students in 2026-27!

See our full list of donors here! (https://www.sgdragons.org/article/3013283) 💚

Looking to next year... the district is collaborating with Care to Learn to enhance the Backpacks for Friday program by providing a greater variety of food items and more complete meal options for participating families. The district plans to expand the program from 56 backpacks to between 70 and 75 backpacks! 🤩

💚 Want to support these efforts?

🔗 Donate online: bit.ly/dragongiving

💌 Or mail a check to:

Care to Learn Ste. Genevieve
c/o Ste. Genevieve R-II School District
375 N. Fifth Street, Ste. Genevieve, MO 63670

(If you would like your donation to go specifically to the Backpacks for Friday program, please specify that in the memo line.)

Together, we’re helping students focus on what matters most—learning, growing, and thriving. 🐲✨

06/04/2026

🥰

"I think for me, it's the hugs."

As the school year winded down in Ste. Genevieve R-II School District, District School Social Worker Stephanie Gegg participated in the end-of-year celebrations for seniors: singing the school song, Teacher Congratulations Tunnel and graduation. And along the way, Stephanie got so many hugs from students she's helped over the years.

Because she hasn't just been meeting needs, she'd been building relationships with students to help them truly succeed at school.

"Yes, I do it because I want every student to be happy, comfortable and cared for so they can focus while at school, but I also do it for the hugs and the ability to build special connections with the students I work with," she said. "Becoming a Care to Learn chapter has helped me to be able to build so many more relationships and help so many more students. And for that I am truly thankful."

Because showing you care isn't just meeting a need, it's kindness made real with dignity and intention in every action.

And the hugs from happy kids? The hugs are the best.

05/14/2026

I think for me it's the hugs....

As we enjoy the last days with our seniors here at Ste. Genevieve R-II School District, between the singing of the school song on their last day and the Teacher Congratulations Tunnel at graduation, I get many, many hugs along with some "thank you for everything you have done for me." I do not have an expectation of thank you's, but am always so touched when I receive them.

And I have come to realize that in helping these students, I have been a little selfish. Yes, I do it because I want every student to be happy, comfortable and cared for so they can focus while at school, but I also do it for the hugs and the ability to build special connections with the students I work with.

Becoming a Care to Learn chapter has helped me to be able to build so many more relationships and help so many more students. And for that I am truly thankful.

So long story short, in addition to the smiles and bright faces from the kids when they pick up their holiday food bag, I am selfish and I do what I do for the hugs. 🥰

-Stephanie Gegg, District School Social Worker

04/08/2026

A huge THANK YOU to Citizen’s Electric for their generous donation to our Care to Learn chapter and for supporting our Friday Backpack Program as well as all of the programs our Care to Learn chapter have to help meet our students’ health, hunger and hygiene needs.

Citizen’s Electric, along with a number of other generous donors, have responded to letters sent out by our chapter to help support our programs into the next school year. The donations and support has exceeded our hopes and expectations! We are beyond thankful for all who support our chapter and students at Ste. Genevieve School District! 💚🤍💚