In September 2005, my husband, Kirk, and I were deeply moved by the difficult conditions on the Gulf Coast in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. We gathered people to consider how to help those affected, and later worked with three families who relocated to our area. A few months later, T&E Care was born. We realized that if we could rally the community to support families from another part of the country, surely we could rally that same community to help our own neighbors who might be struggling.
Now, almost 20 years later, I look back on this journey with deep gratitude and much pride. These years have brought me the privilege of meeting some incredible people in this community. I’ve learned so much from the families we support—their resilience in the face of hardship is truly humbling. Getting to know many dedicated volunteers and donors within the community, many T/E School District staff members, and many leaders from other local organizations has been very special. It’s amazing what a group of very random volunteers can do! My life has truly been enriched through the many friendships I’ve made since that September beginning.
Serving as President of T&E Care for the past 20 years has been a true honor, but I have decided that it’s time to pass the torch. I’ll be stepping down as President on April 30, 2025. This wasn’t an easy decision to make, but I’m confident in the capable volunteers on our Board who are ready to step into leadership roles.
I am incredibly proud of what T&E Care has accomplished over the years. We have been able to make a significant impact within our community, and that would not have been possible without your trust. Your generosity has allowed us to raise the necessary resources, and we’ve done all of this with an all-volunteer team. That’s a remarkable achievement, especially in times when volunteerism can be hard to come by. Not paying salaries or maintaining a physical building has allowed us to direct almost every dollar raised to those who need it most.
Thanks to the support of our incredible donors, we’ve distributed over $5.5 million to local families since 2005. We’ve helped with rent and utility bills, covered car repairs, and provided mental health counseling. We’ve helped kids afford school lunches, attend summer camp, and even pursue a college education. We’ve provided school supplies, holiday gifts, special meals, computers, clothing, and food—because YOU cared enough to get involved.
While I’m stepping down from the leadership role, rest assured that I’m not going too far! I’ll still be active with T&E Care, just in a different capacity. Our current Board is committed to continuing the mission, and I have every confidence that T&E Care will be here to support our community for many years to come.
Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for your support over the years. Your involvement has made all of this possible. Finally, and most importantly, I want to publicly thank Kirk for being my steadfast support from the beginning. It has meant the world to me to know he cared enough to let me follow my dreams over our 51+ years of marriage.
Much gratitude to all!
Sandi Gorman
