The River Valley is home to many incredible nonprofit organizations doing amazing work with limited resources.
Our 5th annual Local Nonprofits Guide serves to further each of their missions and allows you to discover how you can get involved and pledge your support to those which are near and dear to your heart.
The River Valley is home to many incredible nonprofit organizations doing amazing work with limited resources.
Our 5th annual Local Nonprofits Guide serves to further each of their missions and allows you to discover how you can get involved and pledge your support to those which are near and dear to your heart.
7000 Chad Colley Boulevard
Fort Smith, Arkansas
479.308.2243
achehealth.edu
Arkansas Colleges of Health Education (ACHE) is a private, not-for-profit institution located on 500+ acres in Fort Smith. ACHE is fulfilling its mission of educating future healthcare professionals through: Arkansas College of Osteopathic Medicine (ARCOM), Master of Science in Biomedicine (MSB), Master of Public Health (MPH), School of Physical Therapy (ACHE PT), and School of Occupational Therapy (ACHE OT). Off campus, ACHE is committed to making a difference in the community. The ACHE Research Institute Health & Wellness Center (RI) celebrated the opening of the first floor of the 317,000-square-foot facility to be used for biomedical research and targeted health and wellness initiatives. ACHE is a private institution dedicated solely to healthcare and wellness.
5401 Rogers Avenue, Suite 204
Fort Smith, Arkansas 479.927.1402 aspsf.org
In the River Valley, low-income single parent students hope they can pay utility bills, put food on the table, buy gas, and still have enough funds to stay in school next semester. This is why Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship Fund (ASPSF) exists — and you can help, too! When you give to ASPSF, you provide a flexible scholarship that helps nontraditional students pay for school supplies, childcare, and groceries while attending classes. And, best of all, you send the message that you believe in single parents and their education. Your gift today helps single parents on their journey through school, to graduation, and onto a career with family-supporting wages. Donate or volunteer today at aspsf.org.
PO BOX 11967, Fort Smith, Arkansas contact@billneumeierfoundation.com
The Bill Neumeier Foundation for Suicide Awareness was founded in remembrance of William “Bill” August Neumeier, Jr. Our mission is to provide monetary contributions to local suicide awareness and intervention organizations in Fort Smith dedicated to improving suicide awareness, intervention, and improved mental health. Bill Neumeier, Jr. was born Dec. 7, 1963, in Fort Smith to William “Bill” and Jo Ann “Jody” Neumeier. He was a member of St. Boniface Catholic Church. After graduating from Subiaco Academy Bill attended College of the Ozarks. He was owner/operator of Neumeier’s Rib Room and Papa’s Pub and Pizzeria, a passionate supporter and organizer of the Riverfront Blues Festival and Peacemaker Festival and was a huge supporter of the revitalization of downtown Fort Smith, Arkansas!
Bost has greatly evolved since the original Bost School’s purpose of providing education to school-age children, to our current multitude of services and programs for individuals of all ages, with a wide range of disabilities and mental health needs across the state of Arkansas. From getting children ready for school, to assisting adults with becoming more independent, Bost grows with those we serve to provide a lifetime of care while fostering independence, no matter the level of disability. Employment opportunities are available at www.bost.org/careers. #iambost #wearebost
1216 Towson Avenue, Fort Smith, Arkansas 479.785.4171 casaofsebastiancounty.org
CASA of Sebastian County (Court Appointed Special Advocates) is a non-profit organization utilizing volunteers to advocate for children in Sebastian County foster care. Volunteers are trained to understand the impact of trauma on children in foster care. By visiting a child in their placement, they become a consistent person in the child’s journey through foster care. Volunteers advocate for services that promote healing, helping children develop resilience without causing additional trauma. Due to a lack of volunteers, we can only advocate for 40% of the almost 400 children in foster care. Every child deserves a volunteer to advocate for their best interest and ensure they don’t fall through the cracks of an overloaded foster care system.
Join us for the 15th Annual Christmas Honors event to honor our veterans and their families! On Friday, December 1st, volunteers will work to prepare the 16,000+ wreaths at the Fort Smith Convention Center. No sign up is required – just come and help! Then join the community at the Fort Smith National Cemetery on Saturday, December 2nd for the honor ceremony and the laying of the wreaths. Every veteran’s headstone will be honored by laying a green wreath with a bright red bow for remembrance of their service and sacrifice. Let us never forget them. Visit the NEW website for the schedule of events and more! ChristmasHonors.org and on Facebook @ChristmasHonors.
310 North F Street, Fort Smith, Arkansas 479.782.1443
fscrm.org
Community Rescue Mission, a faith-based, Christian organization, has served the homeless community for over 40 years. While families live with us in our transitional program, we provide for all their basic needs and help them find employment or return to school, encourage them to attend counseling and support groups, and provide parenting classes, financial literacy classes, nutrition classes, job skills, recovery resources and peer support. We instill hope and empower the lives of families and children in crisis due to homelessness by providing safe shelter, meals, case management, and spiritual enrichment to prepare families to acquire jobs and live successful, independent, productive lives.
1606 South J Street, Fort Smith, Arkansas 479.785.4031
cjsinc.org
CJS serves the needs of youth and families who are struggling to navigate their way through those difficult teen years. With offices in the counties of Sebastian, Crawford, Logan, Scott, Polk and Montgomery since 1977, we determine the specific needs of each individual youth and refer to those services most appropriate to provide the help they need. CJS services include casework, mentoring, aftercare/re-entry, strengthening families program, parenting classes, workforce program, emergency shelter, classes for life skills, anger management, substance abuse, and social media, mental health assessments and therapy, residential care through the Fort Smith Girls Shelter, community service program, and electronic monitoring. Please call 479-785-4031 for more information or to make a referral.
4800 South 46th Street, Fort Smith, Arkansas
479.551.2221
fsmah.org
We are committed to providing a haven and the best care for abandoned and lost animals of Fort Smith. Our goal is to reunite them with their family or place them in a loving home. You can make a tremendous difference! We need your assistance to pay the cost of housing animals after the five-day hold. The City of Fort Smith pays for the first five days of care, we then work to return animals to their owners, adopt or transport them to our partners. This is an expensive process with the increases in fuel and labor cost. Open daily, we welcome everyone to visit us, see what we are doing, adopt an animal or volunteer!
6015 Boys Club Lane, Fort Smith, Arkansas
479.646.9519
fsbgc.org
At 95-years-old, the Fort Smith Boys & Girls Club has learned a thing or two about a thing or two. Our focus is youth development, and our mission is to provide quality programming to every child in our community. From the new Cox Innovation Lab that recently opened, to Lego Robotics, gardening, and music, our programs are developed in collaboration with area partners to make sure every child has every opportunity to build a bright future. The Clubs are where kids can make friends, have fun, explore, and learn in a positive and safe environment. Building great futures starts now. It starts today. And it starts with us.
401 North 6th Street, Fort Smith, Arkansas 479.783.2966
fslt.org / Facebook, Twitter, Instagram
Come downtown for year-round entertainment featuring comedies to dramas and musicals to mysteries. The Fort Smith Little Theatre’s casual, comfortable setting is perfect for date night, a matinee with mom, or a girls’ night out. Looking for friendship and a chance to learn new skills? Join the fun as a volunteer. Building sets, ushering, making coffee, acting — there are plenty of jobs to do and friends to be made at FSLT, your all-volunteer community theatre since 1947. And remember, a Gift Certificate or 2024 Season Package would make a great Christmas gift. Learn more at fslt.org or find us on social media. Next Up: A Christmas Carol, Nov. 9-18.
5 South 7th Street, Fort Smith, Arkansas 479.452.7575
fortsmithsymphony.org
Experience wonderful concerts, world-renowned guest artists and terrific music making with the Fort Smith Symphony! This fully professional symphony orchestra, comprised of musicians from a seven-state area, presents concerts for the entire family from film music to the Pops, holiday and the classics. Concerts are held at the ArcBest Performing Arts Center. All audience members are invited to after-parties at the Bakery District after every concert. The orchestra also presents a robust educational program that reaches 6,000 students annually. The Symphony’s international reputation through its commercial recordings brings extremely positive recognition to the region. Check out the Symphony’s events at fortsmithsymphony.org.
479.783.0233 goodsamaritanfs.com
The Good Samaritan Clinic has been serving the uninsured and underserved in the River Valley since 2003. Our mission is to provide compassionate, quality healthcare to our neighbors in need. We are open Monday – Wednesday, 8a – 6p and Thursday 8a – 5p, closed Friday – Sunday. In addition to general healthcare, we offer vision care, chiropractic care, and counseling services (in English and Spanish). After 20 years in our current location, we will relocate to 1400 Zero Street in the fall of 2024. We are excited and look forward to serving even more patients in our new location! Don’t neglect your health just because you are uninsured or underinsured. Contact us today at 479-783-0233 or goodsamaritanfs.com. #wearegoodsam, are you?
417 South 16th Street, Fort Smith, Arkansas
479.452.2260
hearttoheartpfcc.org
Heart to Heart Pregnancy and Family Care Center has been serving the River Valley and surrounding areas for 37 years. We proudly serve women, men, and families with children up to the age of three. We provide families with much-needed free monthly supplies such as: diapers, wipes, formula, clothing and so much more. We gratefully accept gently used and new clothing, shoes, blankets, etc. We are also thankful for the faithful, financial support of our donors. If you are interested in connecting with Heart to Heart as a client, volunteer, or supporter, please reach out to us at 479-4522260. Together with our great community, we are making a difference, one heartbeat at a time.
P.O. Box 11828, Fort Smith, Arkansas 479.970.8351 / manesandmiracles1@gmail.com manesandmiracles.org
Manes & Miracles offers physical, occupational, and speechlanguage therapy services using horses as a treatment tool. This practice is called hippotherapy because "hippo" in Greek means horse. The treatment strategy utilizes equine movement as part of an integrated treatment program to achieve functional outcomes. Using equine-assisted therapy has a wide variety of benefits including increasing motivation and participation in sessions, providing multi-dimensional movement to aid motor skills, and boosting overall self-confidence. As a nonprofit, we rely heavily on the generosity of caring individuals and organizations. Check out our Facebook page for more information about our #GivingTuesday fundraiser on November 28. Donations are tax deductible. We greatly appreciate your support and generosity!
1205 South Albert Pike, Fort Smith, Arkansas 479.783.2273 projectcompassioninc.com
Today, we continue Gloria White’s vision to bring joy, companionship, and enhanced quality of life to nursing home residents. Our volunteers visit, befriend, and engage. The bond between residents and volunteers is strong and builds over time. Residents enjoy receiving cards, laughing, and dancing with our “Bordertown Belles,” musicians, and GrandFriends. Fidgeteers provide colorful blankets with embellishments to keep idle hands busy and comfort those who suffer from dementia. Our Hearts of Gold program provides gifts of clothing at Christmastime to residents, particularly those without family visitors. We are a United Way of Fort Smith agency serving 26 long-term care and senior living facilities. Visit us online to donate, volunteer, and get involved!
3324 South M Street, Fort Smith, Arkansas
479.782.6302 / 800.262.9917
reynoldscancersupporthouse.org
In 1978, the Cancer Support Foundation was organized to provide non-medical services, counseling, transportation, and support for cancer patients and their families. We offer an array of programs and services including wigs, hats, turbans, and other hair-loss needs, post mastectomy supplies, transportation assistance to and from treatment, emotional support groups led by licensed facilitators, nutritional supplements, nutrition classes, education sessions and cancer screenings, medical equipment and supplies, low-impact exercise classes, emergency financial assistance, one-on-one patient navigation, and so much more! Visit us online or call today to see how you can get involved!
479.431.2050
rvpcs.org
River Valley Primary Care Services is a nonprofit, Federally Funded Health Center organization with clinic locations in Ratcliff, three in Fort Smith, Mulberry, Mountainburg, Lamar, Waldron, Clarksville, Lavaca, Bonanza, and Coal Hill, Arkansas. RVPCS has assembled a team of excellent doctors, dentists, and healthcare professionals to create an inviting health care home where hopes and dreams of good health can soar. RVPCS is based on the commitment to provide quality comprehensive and preventative health care that is affordable to all people in Arkansas, including those with insurance, those without, and those that are underinsured. RVPCS has created a health care home with dignity and respect for the health and well-being of all individuals that we serve.
1333 Arapaho Avenue, Suite A Springdale, Arkansas 479.756.5600
rmhcofarkoma.org
Ronald McDonald House Charities of Arkoma aims to support the health and well-being of children and families in Western Arkansas and Eastern Oklahoma. At RMHC, it is our goal to create programs that provide a home-away-from-home for families caring for their sick children. We aim to keep families comfortable by providing everything they would need at their own house – meals, shampoo, laundry detergent, snacks, hygiene products, and more. Help RMHC lift burdens off of families in a vulnerable time by giving up to give back. Give up a coffee, movie ticket, or shopping trip once a month and donate at https://rmhcofarkoma.harnessgiving.org/giveup-giveback.
5904 South Zero Street, Fort Smith, Arkansas 479.646.2819 fsboyshome.org
The Boys Home, a tax-exempt 501c3 non-profit organization, is a long-term residential treatment program for boys, ages 13 to 18, in the foster care system. Children are referred by The Department of Human Services. Maximum capacity is thirteen, but over the last eight years more than 200 boys have called it home. Residents are given mental and physical health treatment if needed, educational tutoring, and instruction for modifying any negative behaviors. The Boys Home staff is committed to being a positive role model for the youth in our care and making their lives as normal and productive as possible! Our tax-exempt number for donations is 510-7284.
5521 Ellsworth Road, Fort Smith, Arkansas 479.353.0767
thecallinarkansas.org
The CALL partners with local families who are interested in foster care or adoption to walk them through the process of opening their home. With over 540 children and youth in foster care in Crawford and Sebastian Counties, we continue to see some of the highest numbers of kids in care in the state. Since our founding in 2007, we have opened over 3,320 foster and adoptive families which make up 67% of the traditional (non-relative) foster homes statewide. We also partner with those who would like to volunteer their time and talents and we are completely funded through donations. If you are ready to Seek, Serve or Support local families and children, email Emily Treadaway, County Coordinator at etreadaway@thecallinarkansas.org.
3304 South M Street, Fort Smith, Arkansas 479.785.4677
The Gregory Kistler Center is based on integrity and quality of care and a dream that began with the Kistler family. The growth of the center is a reflection of the caring and professional staff that provides care to both pediatric therapy patients and also patients served in our community and throughout the River Valley. The Kistler Center offers occupational, physical, speech and aquatic therapy to all children under the age of 21 and is a certified provider of the Community Employment Support (CES) waiver program and the Arkansas Autism Partnership waiver program. From our clinic therapy services to our in-home waiver services, the Kistler Center is here for you. Your journey is our journey!
120 North 13th Street, Fort Smith, Arkansas 479.782.1311
unitedwayfortsmith.org
The United Way of Fort Smith Area is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping local communities thrive. By partnering with a wide range of organizations, the United Way provides critical resources to those in need. Their focus areas include health, education, financial stability, and crisis support services, with the goal of improving the lives of people throughout their six-county area. With a strong commitment to accountability and transparency, the United Way ensures that 100% of donations are used effectively and efficiently. From supporting after-school programs to providing access to workforce training for persons with disabilities, the impact of the United Way can be seen in every corner of the community.
4701 Grand Avenue, Fort Smith, Arkansas 479.785.0152
waballet.org
Western Arkansas Ballet announces the 38th annual production of The Nutcracker on Saturday, December 16, 7pm, Sunday, December 17, 2pm, at the ArcBest Performing Arts Center in Fort Smith. Tickets are available for purchase beginning November 6, $30/child, $20/ adult and students with valid ID. Join the Sugar Plum Fairy for her annual Sugar Plum Fairy Tea Sunday on November 19, 2pm, at the Riverfront Glass Pavilion, 100 North B Street, in Fort Smith. Join your favorite Nutcracker characters for a delightful afternoon of dancing, crafts, fun, and goodies! Adult tickets include refreshments. Tickets are $30/child and $20/adult and are on sale now at www.waballet.org.