HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) — The president of the Caring Link, a Madison County-based organization that supplies students with things they need, is receiving national attention.
Since Kate O’Neal founded the Caring Link, the organization has expanded to stock 20 Care Closets in Madison County Schools. The closets are filled with clothes, shoes, hygiene products and school supplies.
“Students in need are able to focus on their education without worrying about items they don’t have,” O’Neal said. “We’re all about removing barriers to learning and helping struggling students and families have what they need to succeed in the classroom and beyond it.”
Students, with the help of a teacher, are able to pick out items they need.
“Many students use their closets, and so many are grateful to have it,” O’Neal said. “Their families are grateful and especially the teachers and staff are so thankful to have these resources on site to help the students that they love and care for, so they have what they need to perform to the best of their ability in their classrooms.”
O’Neal is one of four national finalists nominated for the NASCAR Foundation’s Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award. The winner is chosen by votes and will receive a $100,000 donation benefiting their organization.
“$100,000 would, first of all, put in two brand new care closets in Madison County, and it would also fund part of a resource center at ASFL, The Academy for Science and Foreign Language in Huntsville City. It would help our new beginning school readiness program, where we prepare students to go back to school with resources, haircuts, all kinds of vision and hearing screening that they need to succeed, as well as our other enrichment programs.”
The Caring Link currently supports 17,000 students in Madison County, and O’Neal said she hopes to support more in the future.
Voting is open through November 3, and you can vote every day until the deadline. The winner will be announced on November 4.
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