Volunteerism in Arkansas

May 2025

A PUBLICATION OF ARKANSAS COMMUNITY FOUNDATION Exploring issues from the Community Foundation’s Aspire Arkansas report

The Heart of Arkansas: Why Volunteers Matter More Than Ever At Arkansas Community Foundation, we believe in the power of people and relationships to make a difference.

Across our great state, nonprofits work tirelessly to address critical needs.

However, their success often depends on a vital force: volunteers.

Volunteers are the heart of most nonprofit organizations. They provide hands-on support, offer professional expertise, board leadership and bring passion and commitment to causes that strengthen our communities. Without volunteers, many organizations would struggle to exist. In this publication, we feature organizations and volunteers that are making a tremendous difference in causes that affect most Arkansas communities.

For many, donating money to a cause isn’t always possible — but giving your time is. Your effort, energy, and compassion can, even for a few hours, create lasting change in someone’s life.

Beyond the benefits to nonprofits, volunteering is a civic duty that we can all embrace — an essential part of what makes a community strong.

When we step up to serve, we create connections, foster understanding and build a culture of generosity.

I encourage you to find a cause that speaks to you and take action. Your impact can be profound — whether serving meals at a shelter, reading to children, or lending a hand at a community event, each act of service brings us closer to a thriving Arkansas.

Whether you have an hour a week or a day a year to give, your time and talent matter.

Together, through service, we can lift up our communities and create a brighter future.

In gratitude,

Heather Larkin

President and CEO

ENGAGE Magazine

A Publication of Arkansas Community Foundation

President and CEO — Heather Larkin Chief Communications Officer and Editor — Jessica Hughes Ford Photography — Claret Alcala, Wesley Hitt and Steve Rogus Designer — Lesley Cooper, Cooper Design

On the cover: Missy Moore is a long-time volunteer for the Little Rock Animal Village in Pulaski County.

Few in Number, Fierce in Purpose: Unsung Heroes in Pine Bluff

The staff and volunteers at Opportunity House provide a refuge and respite for those experiencing homelessness in the Pine Bluff community.

In downtown Pine Bluff, a modest building buzzes quietly each morning with the work of compassion. This is Opportunity House, an organization dedicated to helping the unhoused population of Pine Bluff get back on their feet.

Core to their mission is meeting people where they are — whether it’s under a bridge, in an unlit, unheated home, or in emotional despair.

Opened in spring of 2024, Opportunity House is marking a year of deeply impactful work for their clients. “Our primary goal is helping people find housing,” says Chris Taylor, program director. “But first, we meet basic needs — meals, showers, laundry. Then we create individualized plans to get people back on track.”

It’s a simple formula rooted in dignity: meet basic needs, then

address the deeper struggles. Each participant is paired with a case manager, who serves as a conduit for accessing other services.

Together they build a personalized action plan, whether that means regaining access to public benefits, employment training or seeking addiction counseling.

Taylor will never forget an early success story. “Our very first participant walked in with nowhere to go. He had lost his wife and just didn’t know how to take care of himself in fundamental ways. He was homeless for the first time in his life. Through our case manager, within 15 days his veterans' benefits were restarted, and we found him a home in DeWitt. Now he has reconnected with his daughter and grandchild. He just needed someone to show him what was available and give him a little help to get there. continued on page 2

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“Access to affordable housing is a problem in Pine Bluff,” says Taylor.

“Some of our clients live in abandoned or decrepit homes. They simply have nowhere else to go.”

The economic landscape has added additional strain, ramping up the demand for Opportunity House’s services. As Taylor explains, the south side development in Pine Bluff of big-box retailers and the construction of bypass highways redirected commerce — and people — away from the city’s core.

“We lost our downtown businesses.

Now, there’s little reason for travelers to pass through Pine Bluff,” he says. “Over time, that put a quiet stranglehold on the local economy.”

Efforts are underway. City programs, the federal housing authority, and local real estate agents are working to create affordable housing but progress is slow.

That’s where Opportunity House, with a growing volunteer program, is working to fill in some of the gaps to serve those in need.

Colleen Sandal volunteers every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

“Volunteers are absolutely essential,” Taylor emphasizes. “The volunteers run the front desk, serve meals, sort clothing — everything.

We couldn’t function without them.” Groups from local churches, the United Way, and soon AmeriCorps, show up week after week to help the house run smoothly, but more are needed.

Some volunteers help every now and then; others, like Colleen Sandal, become pillars of the organization.

Staff and volunteers serve breakfast daily from 8:00-10:30 in the cafeteria at Opportunity House in Pine Bluff.

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“Volunteers are absolutely essential,” Taylor emphasizes. “The volunteers run the front desk, serve meals, sort clothing — everything.

We couldn’t function without them.”

Chris Taylor Program Director

“Colleen is our point guard,” Taylor says with a smile. “She’s been at our front desk since the beginning every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Everyone calls her ‘grandmother.’ She brings cookies, teaches soft skills like manners, and builds relationships with people who maybe haven’t experienced kindness in a long time. We couldn’t do this without Colleen.”

Volunteer roles vary, and all are critical. Mornings start with a hot breakfast, often prepared and served by volunteers who may be the only friendly faces participants see that day. Other volunteers help maintain the clothing closet, organize donations and help work the front desk.

“We are building community,” says Taylor. “You get to know the regulars, and they get to know you.

It's beautiful.

“The volunteers are vital,” he continues. “But equally important is the case manager here, Melissa Brock. Our clients work directly with her to figure out their barriers, then build a plan from there.”

Brock is the only case manager for the entire organization.

The process doesn’t happen overnight. “You’re not going to find out everything in that first session,” Taylor says. “Some folks just need one-time assistance, but others need consistent support.”

Brock builds trust with the clients, often uncovering underlying issues like undiagnosed learning disabilities, mental health concerns, or a lack of financial literacy that have contributed to their homelessness.

Every person who walks through Opportunity House’s doors has a unique story — some marked by loss, others by trauma, addiction or sheer bad luck.

“Everything the staff and volunteers do here is about showing people that someone cares. Whether it is Melissa working on an action plan with a client, or Colleen greeting clients with a smile,” says Taylor, “Our job is to listen, understand and make a way.”

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The Circle of Welcome: Volunteering with Canopy NWA

A Circle of Welcome volunteer group stands in front of Christopher's House in Springdale. They provide comfort, resources and ongoing support to refugees.

Something extraordinary is happening in the heart of Northwest Arkansas — neighbors are welcoming the world. Since its beginning in 2015, Canopy Northwest Arkansas has grown from a grassroots charity into a vital refugee resettlement agency, helping 952 individuals rebuild their lives in a new land. The magic behind Canopy’s impact lies in its volunteer program, everyday people choosing to help.

Canopy was born from a belief that Northwest Arkansas could be a beacon of hope for families outside the U.S. fleeing conflict. Today, the organization provides support through case management, employment assistance, youth services, mentoring for newcomers, and various other forms of help. Yet it’s the human connections formed through their volunteer program that makes the biggest difference.

Central to Canopy’s mission is the Circle of Welcome program, a six-month commitment where a team of volunteers forms a support system for a newly arrived refugee family.

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As Kimberly Elder, the program’s coordinator, describes, “They’re like the family’s first friends.” These volunteers offer far more than logistical help; they provide emotional and social encouragement during one of the most overwhelming transitions a person can face.

Elder gets emotional talking about when the families arrive from their country of origin. “When a family arrives at the airport, they’re greeted with flowers, handmade signs, and open arms. But before they even set foot in Arkansas, the Circle of Welcome has been at work,” she says. “They secure donated furniture, decorate the homes with personal touches, stock the pantry with culturally appropriate groceries and prepare a warm meal.”

But the support doesn’t stop there.

Volunteers help families navigate life in the U.S., from job interviews and school enrollments to soccer practices and dinner gatherings, they become part of the family’s new community, often forming lasting bonds. “One team enrolled a young boy in a local soccer league,”

Elder shares. “They take him to every practice because his mother has to work in the evenings, and they all show up for his games.”

Canopy’s volunteers step in to fill some of the gaps that come with relocation, like translation, transportation and emergency childcare. The work isn’t always easy, but volunteers gain a new perspective, build lasting friendships, and witness firsthand the resilience of the human spirit. In turn, refugee families find safety, stability and a sense of belonging.

“Sandra“ legally arrived recently after fleeing unimaginable violence in Central America. Due to extreme corruption and violence, she was forced to seek safety outside the country. She made her way to Northwest Arkansas with her teenage daughter and an adult son with developmental delays. Her husband, grown daughter and grandchildren are still in Central America.

Sandra is still processing the traumas that she experienced and reeling from so much change. “Her children are deeply affected,” says

Elder. “They are sensitive to loud voices and aggressive body language. Volunteers and staff are sensitive to these dynamics.”

When she first arrived, Sandra was placed in an apartment. But it quickly became clear that as a single mother supporting a teenager and 26-year-old son with developmental needs, she would struggle to make ends meet on her own.

That’s when a door opened, literally and figuratively.

Christopher’s House, a modestly restored transition home made possible by the First United Methodist Church of Springdale, became available after another family moved out. The Circle of Welcome volunteers decorated the house with care and warmth, turning it into a sanctuary for Sandra and her kids. When she walked in and saw the space for the first time, she turned to her case manager and asked, stunned, “This is for us?”

After settling into Christopher’s House, Sandra and her children began to heal. Volunteers and case continued on page 6

They’re like the family’s first friends. These volunteers offer far more than logistical help; they provide emotional and social encouragement during one of the most overwhelming transitions a person can face.

— Kimberly Elder Canopy NWA Circle of Welcome Director 5

managers describe her as becoming part of the fabric of their new community little by little, building trust, confidence and hope. Her story is a reminder of the stakes involved in refugee resettlement. These are not statistics — they are mothers, daughters, and sons seeking refuge, safety and dignity.

“While families like Sandra’s give me hope,” remembers Elder, “the road to resettlement is growing increasingly difficult because of shifting policies and funding structures that underpin the work Canopy does every day.”

Canopy is facing one of its most severe challenges to date as 68% of their revenue comes from federal sources. The organization has had federal contracts terminated, leading to concerns about future program delivery. The most recent scare came in January, when a stop-work order for the Reception and Placement (R&P) Program was issued, stopping essential services to refugees within their first 90 days in the

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United States. This decision left 25 newly arrived families, about 65 individuals, without the support they had been promised, during the most critical window of their resettlement journey.

Thanks to years of careful stewardship, committed volunteers and diversified funding, Canopy was able to pull from emergency reserves, funds that would have otherwise supported staff salaries and operations.

Amid the uncertainty, Canopy’s team and the community surrounding it have shown unwavering resolve. “The outpouring of support from the local community has been incredible,” says Elder. “Many of these volunteers continue to volunteer long after their official commitments end. Their love doesn’t come with an expiration date.”

To learn more or help Canopy’s mission, visit www.canopynwa.org.

Rooted in Service: How Volunteering Shaped One Woman’s Impact on Arkansas network of changemakers, many of whom have gone on to lead major nonprofits themselves.

For Ellon Cockrill of Little Rock, a lifetime of volunteerism has been more than a way to give back, it has been a masterclass in leadership, resilience and building community.

“Everything I learned through volunteering prepared me for where I am now,” Cockrill says.

Today, she manages multiple farms in the Arkansas Delta, leading them toward profitability after years of struggle. She credits her volunteer experience with honing critical leadership skills: financial stewardship, strategic planning, communication, and the ability to build and lead strong teams. “I never thought I would be running a farm, but here I am.”

Cockrill’s decades of service span a wide range of organizations, many in central Arkansas, from the Centers for Youth and Families, the Women’s Foundation of Arkansas, the Alzheimer’s Association and the Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance to Home for Healing. Her commitment has not only helped raise millions of dollars, like the $32 million she helped secure for UAMS’s Psychiatric Research Institute, far exceeding the original $3 million goal, but has also built a

Cockrill’s philosophy is simple: give 100% and surround yourself with people smarter than you. She believes that teamwork and the willingness to embrace change are key to meaningful progress. She says “Every time I’m asked to volunteer, I want to know: ‘Are you willing to do something different than you’ve always done?’ If the answer is yes, I’m usually in. There is so much power in teamwork.

Any success I’ve had as a volunteer or philanthropist is because of good teams around me.”

One of Cockrill’s favorite parts of volunteerism is witnessing the unexpected potential in people.

“When it comes to volunteering, those you think can’t help often surprise you. I love when that happens.”

Her passion is especially evident in her work with vulnerable populations, like the homeless, the hungry and the addicted. “Those who are often forgotten or ignored are the ones I want to help most,” she admits.

Her commitment to help goes beyond volunteering, it also extends to her philanthropy.

Through Arkansas Community Foundation, Cockrill pools her donations with others to maximize their impact. “I could never make my philanthropic dollars stretch so far on my own,” she says.

For Ellon Cockrill, volunteerism is not just a way to contribute, it’s a way to grow, to lead, and to transform lives, including her own.

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OPINION

Little Rock Animal Village: Saving Lives, One Pet at a Time

Written by Missy Moore and Rainey Gibson Leathers Friends of the Animal Village Board of Directors/Volunteers Friends of the Animal Village (FAV) is a nonprofit organization that was created to supplement the needs of the Little Rock Animal Village (LRAV), the city shelter and home of Little Rock Animal Services. The LRAV staff provides excellent day-to-day care for all animals in their charge, as well as for the facility itself. Given that there are 200+ animals in their care at any given time, the nonprofit is stretched thin and unable to tend to all the animals in their care for daily socialization and training.

That’s where our volunteers come in.

New volunteers are trained monthly by LRAV staff and FAV board members and provide crucial assistance in socializing and walking dogs, socializing cats, fostering kittens, taking and posting photographs to social media to boost visibility and adoption chances, handling cats and dogs at fundraising and adoption events, and transporting cats and dogs to other shelters and rescues around the country.

The shelter is constantly over capacity, and volunteers are needed more than ever. The

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demand puts a strain on resources, morale, and an already exhausted staff. Due to the nature of a municipal shelter, LRAV is required to accept every stray found within city limits. When the intake numbers are larger than the adoption numbers, as is often the case, the shelter runs out of space and heart-wrenching decisions must be made. No one wants to see amazing dogs not make it out of the shelter due to lack of space, but it is a devastating reality we face every week. It is often heartbreaking.

What are other ways to lessen the demand on local shelters? LRAV would benefit greatly from post-adoption follow up resources, microchip readers stationed in central locations around the city to help reunite chipped pets with their owners, additional staff, restoration of the mobile adoption unit, a larger facility with more kennels and increased pay for shelter staff.

Training opportunities are also needed for staff members to become specialized in different domains, including consistent and thorough behavioral assessments to make sure animals are safe to

adopt out. Many dogs do not leave the shelter due to perceived aggression, which is difficult to accurately assess in a crowded, stressful environment.

If you are anticipating significant life changes (moving, having a baby, etc.) or you do not feel you have adequate financial resources to provide food, shelter, and heartworm, flea, and tick preventatives for your pet, please consider volunteering rather than adopting. Pets are a significant commitment, and we see so many “owner surrenders,” sometimes immediately after adopting. The stress of these rapid changes can make even the most gentle dogs deeply anxious and unhappy, which leads to unpredictable behavior and negative outcomes.

We also hope for updated legislation for spay and neuter laws and harsher penalties for backyard breeders, dogfighting, hoarders, and situations involving abuse and neglect. With pit bull breeds remaining a hot-button issue that rears its head from time to time, it is crucial we find ways to protect

both adopters and adoptees without unfairly vilifying large groups of dogs.

So how can you help? Most Arkansas communities have an animal shelter that can use more support. Reach out and ask what they need. Most, including LRAV, have an Amazon and Chewy wish list to browse, and are always in need of supplies and monetary donations. If you’re local to Little Rock, please consider joining us for volunteer orientation held the second Saturday of every month at 4500 Kramer St. Without community support, our efforts rapidly dwindle in the face of overcrowding, and without volunteers, the work is endlessly uphill. If you cannot make it to the shelter, citizens can ensure that their own pets are sterilized, “adopt don’t shop” or contact your nearest animal rescue and just ask, “How can I help?” There are always creative ways to support animal shelters.

Most Arkansas communities have an animal shelter that can use more support. Reach out and ask what they need.

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