The Caring Link's Impact
What began as a commitment to help local children has grown into a community-wide effort to ensure students have the basic necessities they need to feel confident, cared for, and ready to learn.
Over the years, The Caring Link has continued to expand its reach, building partnerships with local schools, businesses, organizations, and volunteers to meet the needs of children in our community.
Today, we maintain 28 Care Closets serving more than 17,000 students across Madison County, complemented by eight additional enrichment programs that help kids feel supported, included, and ready to thrive. Behind it all are thousands of volunteer hours and a community that believes every child deserves the opportunity to reach their full potential.
From new clothing and shoes to hygiene products, school supplies, food, books, formalwear, and assistance with school activities, these aren’t simply items being distributed—they’re opportunities to remove barriers, restore confidence, and remind a child that they are seen, supported, and capable of amazing things.
Every item we provide is one less barrier standing between a child and their full potential.
2025-2026 School Year Impact
During the 2025–2026 school year, we made a massive impact on students across Madison County, putting essential resources directly into the hands of kids who needed them most.
- Care Closets: 51,892 items worth over $240,000
- New Beginnings: 14,992 items worth over $80,000
- Feed Our Friends: $26,100 worth of snack/food resources to help fuel learning
- Treated with Care: $13,500 in financial support and $12,100 in product support to school nurses
- Care to Join: $8,111 provided for enrichment opportunities
- Book Fairy: $7,130 helped 1,144 students shop at their school book fairs alongside their peers
- Prom Shop: 1,006 free formalwear items provided to over 200 high school students for “the big dance”
- BOO-tique: Provided 195 Halloween costumes to kids in need so they could take part in the fall festivities
The 2025–2026 school year was also fueled by an incredible outpouring of volunteer support, with dedicated community members giving their time, energy, and heart to help us reach more students and make an even greater impact across Madison County.
- Volunteers: 534 community members donated over 12,800 hours of their time…that’s over 533 DAYS!
Behind the Numbers
Behind every number is a child who walked into school with a need and walked away with something they didn’t have before—and, just as importantly, with the message that their community sees them, believes in them, and cares about their future.
Our impact cannot be measured only in shirts, backpacks, pairs of shoes, or shelves stocked.
It’s measured in the child who no longer has to worry about having clean clothes to wear.
In the student who gets to shop alongside their peers and choose a book of their own to take home.
In the hungry child who has a snack when they need one.
And in the teenager who gets to attend Prom feeling confident and included and ready to make lasting memories.
