THIS IS WHERE WE LANDED

 "You must be prepared to work always without applause" Ernest Hemingway

Choose To Care(CTC)(choosetocaresite.org), is a nonprofit with a mission to provide a brand new pair of shoes for children in need globally and was founded in 2008. They are forever roaming this great but sometimes difficult nation of ours to navigate where they will land.

Donors Choose(donors choose.org), is also a nonprofit organization that allows teachers at public schools nationwide to request resources for their classrooms. The public can easily assist by donating to a teacher's project of choice.

Each month CTC takes that journey to deliver much needed resources. For this month our destination is at Nichols Upper Elementary School in Miami, Oklahoma. Ms. Rosenberg, the kind teacher of Grades 6-8 students passionately wrote about her broken heart seeing the children wearing ill-fitted shoes. Dignity she said"is a learning tool just like a pencil and a good breakfast and is needed"

We at CTC definitely agree and would like to humbly thank our supporters who have made it possible for us to make these joyful deliveries that will put a smile on everyone's faces.

CTC is also a champion for keeping Mother Earth healthy. We hope you will continue to do your part, no matter how small, to honor the health of the planet we call home.

As we come to the end of another year and the start of another, may we find it in our hearts to continue 

helping those who are struggling to stay afloat despite daunting and unimaginable circumstances. Wishing everyone health, joy and strength and a safe journey into 2024.

Peace And Love

FEET IN ACTION

 "When you are laboring for others, let it be with the same zeal as if it were for yourself" Confucius

Choose To Care(CTC)(choosetocaresite.org), the nonprofit with a mission to provide a brand new pair of shoes for the children in need; is on their way to Long Beach, CA, to answer the request from Ms. Ali, the 6-8 grades teacher at Franklin Classical Middle School. She called her project "Feet In Action" Her goal is to provide tennis shoes to students who need them the most so they can enjoy participating in sports and physical education classes.

We are in awe of Donors Choose(donors choose.org), a very trusted classroom funding site for teachers nationwide. Teachers from public schools are given the chance to request resources for their students and classrooms. The best news is that anyone who so desire can donate directly to the project they care about, through Donors Choose.  We at CTC find joy in assisting.

A reminder also that CTC promotes eco-friendly behaviors, encouraging everyone to find ways, no matter how small, in order to contribute to an earth friendly environment.

A deep gratitude to all CTC's supporters. We greatly appreciate your kindness.

CHEERS!

CLINGING TO HOPE

"In a gentle way you can shake the world" Mahatma Gandhi

The month of October came by in the wink of an eye. It is time again for Choose To Care(CTC) -(choosetocaresite.org), a nonprofit, to choose a

destination to bring transformative changes and fulfill its mission to provide a brand new pair of shoes for the child in need. CTC has been working for years through Donors Choose(donorschoose.org), also a nonprofit; that allows teachers to submit requests for resources for their classroom in public schools, nationwide.

The very kind and thoughtful teacher, Mr. Fitzgerald, from Westland High School, called his project "Shoes on the feet to best compete" How creative! He described the wrestling program for the grades 6-8 students as a way for the athletes to work through pain and discomfort, while learning how to become disciplined. The teacher stated that they need the right fit of shoe, to help protect against injuries, while also improving their performance, but many families are unable to make the purchase.

CTC agrees wholeheartedly that these students deserve to wear proper shoes. We can only imagine that the teacher and his students jumped for joy when they heard the good news that their wishes were fulfilled. As usual, CTC is filled with gratitude for the kind people who made this possible. Your support is vital and greatly appreciated.

CTC is also concerned about the deterioration of the environment and invites all our supporters to do their part, no matter how small, to help preserve this wonderful earth we call home.

In Health And Happiness!

OFF TO SCHOOL

"It all comes to this, the simplest way to be happy is to do good" Helen Keller

Resources are always needed for students heading back to school, especially in underrepresented communities, where the hardship is heightened.

Donors Choose(donors choose.org), is a trusted classroom site for public school teachers, nationwide. They are allowed to request funding for resources they may need and anyone who desires can sponsor their project.

Ms. Sarah wanted to give her students a fresh start. She is the Grades 6-8 teacher at Dooley Middle School, Tucson, Arizona. She requested shoes for her students, many of whom she said, only own one pair of heavily damaged shoes. She pitched her needs through Donors Choose.

Here comes Choose To Care(CTC) to the rescue. CTC is a nonprofit with a mission to provide a brand new pair of shoes for the child in need. We are glad to be of assistance to these wonderful and deserving students. We will work hard to ensure that the children in need receive the resources to keep them in school, so they can reach their full potential.

CTC also uses the platform to bring awareness to the importance of protecting the environment. You can do your part, no matter how small to keep Mother Earth safe and healthy.

Peace and Love.

LET's KEEP THE GOODNESS GOING

 "Make a habit of two things - to help, or at least to do no harm" Hippocrates

The month of August came around in the wink of any eye and I am lamenting how fast summer will end. Nevertheless, Choose To Care(CTC)(choosetocaresite.org), continues its mission to provide a brand new pair of shoes for the child in need. Donors Choose(donors choose.org) is a nonprofit organization that allows teachers to apply for resources for their classrooms. They make it easy for anyone to help a teacher in need.

CTC "travels" each month to a different location, nationwide. This month we hit the ground running and ended up at the : Red Lake Elementary Complex, Red Lake, Minnesota. Mrs. Sullivan, the very compassionate teacher of these preK and second grade students welcomed the news that her classroom project was funded. She had requested gym and winter shoes. We are grateful to our supporters who continue to help us to bridge the gap, moving us closer to have the ability to provide some of the resources that the students need to have for a great education.

CTC is also passionate about keeping Mother Earth green. We invite you to to do your part, no matter how small to stop the erosion of this great world we live in.

Wishing you health, happiness and endless laughter.

Cheers!

SERVICE

"No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted" Aesop

Choose To Care(CTC) is a nonprofit organization founded in 2008 to provide a brand new pair of shoes for children in need, globally.

Donors Choose is a teacher-funded nonprofit, which gives teachers nationwide, the opportunity to request resources and give the public a chance to support the teachers' classroom.

Through Donors Choose, CTC sponsors a public school each month to provide much needed assistance. Our "road trip" for the month of July, has taken us to : Tara High School, Baton Rouge, LA. We are contributing to the classroom of the very kind and caring teacher, Mr Rawls. He requested running shoes for his boys' track team, where a great number of the students come from low income households. He said that his team needs running shoes for track practice to help support the soreness on their legs, knees and feet.

Thanks to the very generous supporters of CTC, we are able to fulfill our mission and provide for Mr Rawls grades 9-12 students.

We also use our platform at CTC to encourage everyone to do their part, no matter how small to make a real and vital contribution to the health of the environment.

Health & PEACE

OUR KIDS NEED SHOES

 "By the work, one knows the workman"  Jean De La Fontaine

The title were the blunt words of a teacher, looking out for her students. If you have been following Choose To Care(CTC)(choosetocaresite.org), you would have known that each month we find ourselves in a different State, "traveling" to the teacher's classroom that CTC has sponsored to deliver much needed resources for her students.

Through Donors Choose(donors choose.org), a classroom funding site for teachers nationwide, public school teachers can submit their projects, so sponsors like CTC or an individual make it possible for them to be assisted.

John M Patterson Elementary School, Philadelphia,PA, is our destination. Ms Gardler, the teacher requested sneakers for the students. She described many of the students' families as struggling and living in poverty. Many students, she said, arrived to school wearing very worn, hand me down shoes that do not fit properly. She stated that these shoes hurt their feet and new shoes she felt would alleviate 

their pain; so they can focus on learning.

I agree with Ms Gardler wholeheartedly,"every child deserves a pair of shoes that fits" CTC to the rescue! We will make sure that the children receive a brand new pair of shoes, fulfilling CTC's mission.

As always we appeal to our supporters to commit to caring for the planet earth, doing what you can, no matter how small.

Wishing you strength and peace to face life's challenges. 

READY TO DO THEIR THING

 "In every walk with nature, one receives far more than he seeks"  John Muir

Working through Donors Choose(donors choose.org), a  trusted classroom funding site for teachers, has brought our organization, Choose To Care(CTC) to a better place. This nonprofit, Donors Choose, allows teachers nationwide, to request funding for their classroom needs.

Today, CTC traveled to Fife Lake, Michigan and visited Forest Area Middle High School. There we met Mrs. Deike, the teacher who asked for tap shoes for her grades 6-8 students, most of whom come from low income households. She called her project, "Tapping Toes"

The students are excited to learn this new dance style and CTC brought them joy by purchasing the shoes. We are grateful to our generous supporters who make it possible to fulfill our mission of providing a brand new pair of shoes for the child in need. Thanks for sending a message of hope.

Our commitment to the environment is still strong. Join us to care for planet earth. Your contribution, no matter how small, will make an impact.  Everyone wins!

Let's rise and shine!

NEW SHOES

 "No act of kindness, no matte how small is never wasted" Aesop

Today, I was watching an interview on a morning show, as Rebeka Peterson of Oklahoma, was named National Teacher of the year. Congratulations! Through all the praises she received from the First Lady, Jill Biden; colleagues; former students; she remained humble. She said she took the time to to notice the good in her students and the good became better. Such a positive attitude toward a difficult job that she has embraced.

Choose To Care(CTC), a nonprofit organization, that I founded in 2008, provides a brand new pair of shoes for children in need. We support a public school teacher each month, through Donors Choose(donors choose.org).This organization is a trusted funding site that allows public school teachers, nationwide, to apply for resources for their students, in need.

This month we stayed closer to home; we traveled to PS48, Joseph R. Drake School, Bronx, NY. The grades 3-5 students' teacher, Ms LeFever, requested new shoes for those she said came to school with holes in their shoes, or with shoes that are too big or too small, because the shoes are hand-me-down. She is passionate about the safety of the kids and wanted them to have shoes that will allow them to walk and play comfortably.

CTC is happy to bring joy to these children, while fulfilling the mission to provide a brand new pair of shoes for the child in need. I am always grateful for those who continue to support CTC.

A reminder also dear Supporters that as we celebrate Earth Day around the world, that each day, you will continue to take care of the earth, since it benefits all living things. We at CTC will continue to raise awareness about the ways our wellbeing is affected by pollution and promote ways to protect our air and water. We will encourage your involvement, no matter how small.

Peace and Hope.

MAY THEY ALL BLOSSOM

 "The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in service of others" Mahatma Gandhi

Choose To Care(CTC)(choosetocaresite.org) has taken the opportunity to bring joy to students of the High School drama and dance program at Aiken New Technical High School, in Cincinnati, Ohio. Their loving and caring teacher, Mrs. Lucas presented her project which she called: "You're Never fully Dressed Without Shoes" Many of her students, she stated, do not have dance shoes because their families do not have the means to provide the shoes for them.

Donors Choose(donorschoose.org), a trusted teacher-founded non-profit allows teachers nationwide to request funding for their classrooms. As a supporter, CTC will ensure that the students receive "real" dance shoes, as Mrs. Lucas asked for; in time for their upcoming spring show.

CTC was given another chance to do something that feels fulfilling and satisfies our mission to provide

a brand new pair of shoes for children in need.

Thanks valued supporters, this is a glimpse of what's possible when we come together to take action. Again, my monthly request is that we also make the health of the Environment a priority. The small steps we are willing to take, add up and will make a difference for planet earth.

Wishing you Comfort, Strength and Peace!

MAKING A WAY

 "Nothing is more honorable than a grateful heart" - Seneca

Donors Choose(donors choose.org) is a nonprofit organization that allows teachers nationwide to apply for resources for their classrooms.

Choose To Care(CTC) is the organization that I founded since 2008 with the mission of providing a brand new pair of shoes for the child in need.

For the month of February and in honor of Black History Month, CTC has selected Mrs. Casimir's 9-12th grade classrooms at the Largo High School, Upper Marlboro, MD.  She wanted tap shoes for her project:Dance For Athletes.

We at CTC wish her success as she continues to engage her students in various genres of dance. Thanks to the supporters, who have made this possible. I greatly appreciate you sharing my passion to help others live a better life.

As usual we want to remind you to find ways of keeping Mother Earth in good shape, no matter how small an act.

Peace and Love

LIFTING UP TOGETHER

"Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear, not absence of fear" Mark Twain

It is a new month and Choose To Care(CTC) is heading to Anchorage, Alaska, to the Mountain View Elementary School to answer the teacher's request for much needed resources for her deserving students.

Ms. Akaran has asked for gym shoes, through Donors Choose(donorschoose.org), a very trusted classroom funding site for public school teachers, nationwide. She described many of the students, not having their own pair of gym shoes. CTC is in the business of providing students with comfortable shoes to prevent aches and pain and in this case making it safe for them to run safely in the gym.

We are always thankful for our supporters who continue to give us the courage to carry on CTC's mission, to provide a brand new pair of shoes for the child and young adult in need. 

We also call upon you to find a way, no matter how small to support our planet, so it will continue to flourish.

Peace And Blessings!

OUR HARVEST

 My colleague and I have been sowing seeds and reaping a harvest that is helping our growing community of mentees, proteges and others.  We have been investing our time and energy and the amazing thing is that we both speak the same language that comes with only a few words that translates into doing our part to make a difference for someone else.

Our chain of mentees-proteges started with an act of kindness. In 2019, on a visit to Tanzania, I met a young man, who was working in a shop in the lodge where our group of travelers stayed. I was drawn to the afrocentric goods made by the Masai tribe people and asked him for a big favor to purchase a variety of merchandise from the market and send it to me in the USA. He did! And a seed was sown.

Two years later, my colleague traveled to Tanzania and I took the opportunity to introduce the first sown seed. Along came a couple who drove him to the Lodge; a bond was formed and more seeds sown. My colleague, in engagement with the couple met their offspring, who was about to enter her first year of college. Through conversations she learned of her needs and stepped in to provide much resources, to make the student's life easier to navigate.

My colleague continued on her journey to Zanzibar, on her missionary trip and met another seeker of hope. Again, she sprung into action, contributing to his desire to open a Pharmacy, with a mission to help those who don't always have the means to buy medicine. Another seed has been sown.

Together through perseverance and bravery, we continue to sow seeds. We have happily found our purpose. As long as we exist, we will continue to sow the seeds of kindness. We are supporting and encouraging our mentees-proteges and hopefully, showing them how we are suppose to take care of each other.

Sweet colleague, thanks for joining me in sowing seeds.  We are surely seeing the benefits of sowing the seeds of service. We are making progress in the work that matters to us. This is great accomplishment and we thank our supporters as we strive for a bigger harvest to come.  We will keep reminding ourselves that we will get through each project, one at a time. Thanks for your stewardship, sweet colleague, together we know that the Divine One will use us in the best way to help others live a better life. I hope they will

travel the road to prosperity and self-sufficiency and make a tangible difference in their communities.

May they all BLOSSOM!

SHINING A LIGHT

 "You can, You should, And if you're Brave enough to start, You will" - Stephen King

It is January 2023 and time for CHOOSE TO CARE (CTC)(choosetocaresite.org) to deliver on its promise to sponsor a public school each month; through DONORS CHOOSE(donors choose.org), the nonprofit that makes it easy for anyone to help a teacher to provide resources for students in need.

Caught My Eyes:   Ms. Drake's Grades 3-5, Johnson Elementary School, Mesa, Arizona

Ms. Drakes's Title Request: Change Your Shoes

Needs:  Ms Drake says that often times students need a change of shoes through the school day.

              +  The shoes break

               +  The shoes is covered in mud

                +  The shoes have something spilled on them

                +   Parents don't always have the means to buy the children a change of shoes

CTC will fulfill its mission to provide a brand new pair of shoes for children in need, putting a smile on their faces. Our desire like their compassionate teacher, is to keep the children in school, wearing proper fitting shoes.

We at CTC are forever grateful for our supporters who enable us to to provide for these classroom projects.  Please don't forget to make a real and vital contribution to the health of the environment in whatever small way you can.

Warm wishes for a healthy and prosperous new year.

Peace & Blessings!