LOCAL NONPROFITS - NOVEMBER 2021

LOCAL NONPROFITS DO SOUTH® MAGAZINE

Local NonProfits

The River Valley is home to many nonprofit organizations doing incredible work. Our 3rd annual Do South® Guide to Local Nonprofits serves to further each of their missions and allows you to discover how you can get involved and commit your support to organizations near and dear to your heart.

LOCAL NONPROFITS

Bost has evolved tremendously since the original Bost School’s

In 1997, the Fort Smith Children’s Shelter welcomed its first

purpose of providing education to school age children, to our

5 children. Twenty-four years later, the FSCS has provided

current multitude of services and programs for individuals of all

a safe haven to over 4,300 abused and neglected children

ages, with a wide range of disabilities and mental health needs.

and young adults in foster care. Our mission is to be a safe

From getting children ready for school, to assisting adults with

and stable home that provides long-term, evidence-based,

becoming more independent, Bost is here when you need us.

trauma-informed, resident-centered and family-focused care

Services are customizable to meet the ever-growing needs of

to youth in foster care who exhibit emotional and behavioral

those in our care. All Bost facilities are following guidelines

challenges due to neglect and/or abuse. Their needs for food,

and recommendations to ensure the health and well-being

clothing, shelter, transportation, tutoring, life skills, and social

of those we serve. Employment opportunities are available at

opportunities are provided. In addition, they receive therapy

www.bost.org/careers. #iambost #wearebost

and emotional support to grow, heal, and transition into a traditional home environment. Please support our children by making a financial donation to the Children’s Shelter.

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479.478.5600 bost.org

3015 South 14th Street, Fort Smith, Arkansas 479.783.0018 fschildrensshelter.org

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LOCAL NONPROFITS

LOCAL NONPROFITS

479.926.0939 or 479.652.3553 christmashonors.org

Regional Office: 1606 South J Street Fort Smith, Arkansas Regional Phone: 479.785.4031 cjsinc.org

Christmas Honors is back for 2021! On December 1 we have our Wreath Workshop and then on December 4 the

Our mission is to serve the needs of youth and their families

Christmas Honors Ceremony and Laying of Wreaths. Our

by providing community-based intervention and advocacy

mission is to place green wreaths with beautiful red bows

services to reduce family conflict, promote family reunification,

upon every single gravesite at the Fort Smith National

prevent juvenile delinquency and entry or further advancement

Cemetery. We’ll pay tribute to Veterans, past and present,

into the juvenile justice system. We seek to redirect the lives of

and to their families who shared them! All 16,500 gravesites

youth and families, empowering youth to become successful

will be decorated with respect and remembrance for their

and productive adults. Referrals come from the court system,

service and sacrifice. Remember, a Veteran’s greatest fear is

law enforcement agencies, school personnel, health care

not of dying, but of being forgotten. Let us NEVER forget

agencies, churches, family members or by youth in person.

them! For more information, please contact us via phone,

Licensed by the Arkansas Department of Human Services as a

visit us online or Facebook.

licensed Child Placement Agency and as a licensed Emergency Residential Child Care Facility, we proudly serve Sebastian, Crawford, Logan, Montgomery, Scott, and Polk counties.

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LOCAL NONPROFITS

1617 S. Zero Street, Fort Smith, Arkansas 479.785.2303 cscdc.net

4905 North O Street, Fort Smith, Arkansas 479.782.7093 fsbgc.org

Crawford-Sebastian Community Development Council is a community action agency that makes improvements in the

Fort Smith Boys & Girls Clubs has served our area since

lives of low-income individuals and families in the River Valley

1928, enhancing the quality of life for the youth in our

area, so that a greater level of self-sufficient living can be

community. Our organization consists of four Club sites

achieved. Our assistance programs include home ownership

(Jeffrey, Evans, Stephens, Goldtrap), offering after-school

assistance and construction, the Community Dental Clinic,

and summer programs for ages 6-18. Club hours are 3pm

utility assistance, home weatherization, the River Valley

until 7pm. Monday thru Friday during school months and

Regional Food Bank, childcare food program, a food pantry,

Monday through Friday 8am until 5pm during the summer.

and a social services program which offers job skills training

Free snacks and meals are provided year-round! Programs

and certifications. To Donate or to learn more about us, please

include mentoring, sports, arts, music, education, field

go to CSCDC.net, or write to CSCDC, 1617 S. Zero St., P.O.

trips, social recreation, Tech lab, and more. We even have

Box 180070, Fort Smith, AR 72918.

a FSBGC shuttle program to transport students from several

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school sites to the Clubs daily!

LOCAL NONPROFITS

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1601 Rogers Avenue, Fort Smith, Arkansas 479.784.2787 fsram.org

1421 South Dallas Street, Fort Smith, Arkansas 479.242.3163 fschildrensshelter.org/get-real-24

The Fort Smith Regional Art Museum (RAM) is a 73-year-old

GetREAL24 is Fort Smith Children’s Shelter’s independent

nonprofit with a mission to foster art appreciation. RAM offers

living program for youth in foster care ages 18 and older.

free entry to its exhibitions and free art education classes for

We aim to give youth “aging out” of care a place to live

all ages. These programs are possible because of support from

independently among their peers while obtaining life skills

individuals through RAM memberships and donations, and

necessary to break the cycle of dysfunction and become

sponsorships by businesses. Art – viewing, discussion, and

successful, contributing members of society. We seek

creation – is good for your physical and mental health. Thank

support from the community through volunteers who serve

you for considering a RAM membership or donation today

as sponsor families or mentors—helping create positive

to help strengthen our region’s only art museum that meets

relationships and a social safety net of support. Help is also

national museum standards. Donations may be made online

needed from volunteers with special skills or talents that

at fsram.org/support, mailed, or best yet, given on your next

could be taught in a life skills class. In addition, internships,

visit. New adventures are always just around the corner with the

shadowing, job training and career opportunities from the

community’s support!

community are also needed.

LOCAL NONPROFITS

421 Towson Avenue, Fort Smith, Arkansas 479.783.2766 habitatfs.org

Our mission is to improve the health in our region by providing

By shopping at your local Restore, you’re helping to build

access to compassionate, quality healthcare and we have

homes in our community for your neighbors in need. Habitat

proudly served the uninsured and underinsured in the River

for Humanity has placed over 100 families in new homes in

Valley area for over eighteen years. We provide medical and

the River Valley and money spent in our Restore will help us

vision care, limited dental care and counseling services for

continue that mission. These new homes and families that

adult patients, and children by appointment (the clinic is closed

inhabit them become integral parts of our communities by

on Fridays). Walk-in patients are seen for basic medical care

supplying tax dollars, stabilizing neighborhoods, and giving

and we offer extended hours every Tuesday until 8pm. Visit us

families a sense of pride. You can also support our affiliate

online or call 479.783.0233. As a 501c3 charitable clinic, one

by donating used appliances, building supplies, etc., to the

hundred percent of our funds stay local. You may not need

Restore. Help us to continue helping others!

us, but we are certain you know someone who does. Call us today! #iamgoodsam Are you?

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615 North B Street, Fort Smith, Arkansas 479.783.0233 goodsamaritanfs.com

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LOCAL NONPROFITS

417 South 16th Street, Fort Smith, Arkansas 479.434.2365 479.452.2260 heart2heartpsc.org

LOCAL NONPROFITS

2713 S. 74th Street, Suite 204 Fort Smith, Arkansas 479.783.1002 hamiltoncca.org Child Abuse. The words alone are hard to hear. And when a child has been abused, it is even harder to know

Heart to Heart Pregnancy and Family Care Center, formerly

where to turn for help, guidance, and understanding. The

Heart to Heart Pregnancy Support Center, has served the

Hamilton Center for Child Advocacy has the experience

River Valley and surrounding areas for over 35 years. This

to help families navigate a complex system while staying

year has been a year of great growth. In the month of June,

focused on what matters most: child safety and well-being.

we added an exciting new service for expectant women, free

Our team of dedicated professionals are here to pave the

limited ultrasounds! We have partnered with Dr. Riche of

way to health, safety, and healing for victims of abuse and

the Mercy McAuley Clinic which allows our clients to begin

their non-offending family members. Our services include

prenatal appointments even sooner. Our free services include

advocacy, forensic interviews, sexual assault medical exams,

pregnancy testing, limited ultrasounds, monthly baby supply

mental health therapy and prevention education. If you

closet, parenting classes, and a maternity closet. Heart to Heart

suspect child abuse, do not hesitate to call 1-800-SAVE A

is making a difference one heartbeat at a time. Donations are

CHILD. Be the voice.

tax deductible and always appreciated!

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P.O. Box 11828, Fort Smith, Arkansas 479.970.8351 manesandmiracles.org

1205 South Albert Pike, Fort Smith, Arkansas 479.783.2273 projectcompassioninc.com

Manes & Miracles offers equine-assisted therapy to children

We are a Fort Smith based nonprofit founded in 1972 by the

with special needs. Our vision is to expand services to

late Gloria White. Her mission to bring joy, companionship,

Veterans. With the help of a horse and certified physical,

and enhanced quality of life to nursing home residents

occupational and speech therapists, we provide a unique

remains the heartbeat of our organization. Volunteers visit

treatment tool called hippotherapy. Mother Lawanda reports

one-to-one with residents, accompany them to activities,

her daughter Angel couldn’t even hold her head up when

and encourage maintaining interest in people and events.

she started, now she is walking hundreds of steps in a gait

We offer music, pet therapy, fidget blankets, calls, and cards

trainer. As a nonprofit, we rely heavily on the generosity of

throughout the year. Our Hearts of Gold program provides

caring individuals and organizations. Donations provide care

Christmas gifts of warm clothing to residents without friends

for therapy horses and help local children receive services.

and family. We are a United Way of Fort Smith agency serving

#GivingTuesday Facebook fundraiser is November 30 and

26 long-term care facilities. We partner with businesses,

please remember us for year-end giving. Donations are tax

schools, churches, and civic organizations. Visit our website

deductible. Thank you for your kind heart.

to donate, volunteer, and get connected!

LOCAL NONPROFITS

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LOCAL NONPROFITS

1617 South Zero Street, Fort Smith, Arkansas 479.785.0582 rvrfoodbank.org

5521 Ellsworth Road, Fort Smith, Arkansas 479.353.0767 thecallinarkansas.org

The River Valley Regional Food Bank acquires and distributes

The CALL works with local churches to recruit, train and support

food from local and national food producers and grocers, as

foster and adoptive parents to provide homes for the over 630

well as local food drives. We distribute that food to 166 partner

children and youth in foster care in Crawford and Sebastian

agencies in eight counties in the River Valley. We feed 94,000

Counties. Since our founding in 2007, we have opened over

low- to moderate-income residents a month and distribute 22

2,600 foster and adoptive families and those families have

million pounds of food annually. In the River Valley, 1 in 6

cared for 24,545 children and youth statewide. Check out

people are food insecure, including 1 in 4 children. Those we

our Facebook page or website for more details, and to see

serve depend on us to feed their families. Without our services,

dates and locations of upcoming events. We are completely

many families would go hungry. This holiday season, thanks to

funded through donations of time, money, and in-kind items.

our partnership with Feeding America, $1 provides 20 meals to

If you’d like to help us serve the children and youth in our area,

families in need. To donate, visit rvrfoodbank.org.

email Emily Treadaway, County Coordinator at etreadaway@

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thecallinarkansas.org.

LOCAL NONPROFITS

3304 South M Street, Fort Smith, Arkansas 479.785.4677 kistlercenter.org The founding of The Gregory Kistler Treatment Center was based on integrity and generosity – the dream of a housewife ago, has grown to become a respected outpatient treatment center known throughout the region. The Kistler Center offers occupational, physical, speech-language, and aquatic therapy to children. We are a certified provider for the Autism Waiver program for children 18 months to 5 years, an EPSDT autism provider, and a certified provider for children and adults in the Community Employment Support Waiver program. From out-patient therapy services to in-home waiver services, the Kistler Center is here for you. Your journey is our journey.

We are a nonprofit community behavioral health center serving Western Arkansas. We provide care for children, adolescents, and adults in the treatment of mental, emotional, behavioral, and substance use disorders. Our staff includes licensed counselors, clinical social workers, psychologists, APRNs, and psychiatrists who are educated and specialize in the treatment of mental and substance use disorders. Utilizing a multi-disciplinary approach, we care for a multitude of needs. Services include but are not limited to general stress/ anxiety, depression, family and group therapy, substance use, chronic behavioral health issues, medication management, and psychological testing. Our services are designed to enhance quality of life, reduce symptoms, and improve functioning.

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and fireman. What was born out of one family’s need, 43 years

Fort Smith, Van Buren, Ozark, Booneville, Paris, Waldron, Mena Emergancy After Hours Crisis Line: 1.800.542.1031 Non-Emergency Warm Line: 479.452.6655 wacgc.org

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LOCAL NONPROFITS